Fuente: WIPO "processing tomato" The present invention discloses an innovative method for extracting natural lycopene from the peels of tomato by-products obtained from industrial processing. Said method involves a mild solid-liquid extraction based on the use of the ethanol-terpene green solvent which is highly selective with respect to lycopene. Said method being characterized in that it comprises the following steps: recovering the tomato peels, washing said peels so as to remove impurities therefrom, drying and grinding the purified peels, bringing the tomato peel powder into contact with the ethanol-terpene solvent, removing tomato peel residues, concentrating the lycopene extract and recycling the extraction solvent, drying said lycopene extract so as to remove traces of ethanol and obtain a pure terpene-enriched lycopene extract. Said lycopene extract is pure, stable, endowed with biological properties, and characterized by a high extraction yield of the order of 99%, intended for use in food, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications.