Announcements

In celebration of World Food Day 2024, MDPI is launching a special webinar to encourage researchers to unite, take action, and showcase how collective knowledge can address the pressing challenges of food security, sustainable agriculture, and resource management.

World Food Day, led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), aims to foster awareness about the importance of food security and the urgent need to eradicate hunger worldwide. In line with this mission, our upcoming webinar invites researchers and experts to discuss innovative solutions for achieving sustainable agriculture, improving resource management, and tackling food insecurity worldwide.

We are very much looking forward to seeing you at MDPI World Food Day Webinar 2024. Please find below an up-to-date outline of the presenters.

Date: 16 October 2024 at 01.30 p.m. CEST | 7:30 a.m. EDT | 7:30 p.m. CST Asia
Webinar ID: 835 7950 1147
Webinar Secretariat: [email protected]

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information on how to join the webinar. Registrations with academic institutional email addresses will be prioritized.

Unable to attend? Register anyway and we will inform you when the recording is available.

Register now for free!

Keynote Speakers:

• Prof. Dr. Giorgia Spigno, Department for Sustainable Food Process, Department for Sustainable Food Process, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Piacenza, Italy;
• Prof. Dr. Ramakrishnan Ramanathan, Department of Management, College of Business Administration, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

We are delighted to share some highly cited papers in the Section “Fermentation Process Design” that were published in Fermentation (ISSN: 2311-5637) in 2022 and 2023. In addition, some Special Issues in this Section are currently open for submissions. The following is a list of the articles and Special Issues that may be of interest to you:

Articles:

1. “Waste-Derived Renewable Hydrogen and Methane: Towards a Potential Energy Transition Solution”
by Omprakash Sarkar, Jampala Annie Modestra, Jampala Annie Modestra, Paul Christakopoulos and Leonidas Matsakas
Fermentation 2023, 9(4), 368; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation9040368
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/9/4/368

2. “Effects of Solid-State Fermentation on the Standardized Ileal Digestibility of Amino Acids and Apparent Metabolizable Energy in Peanut Meal Fed to Broiler Chickens”
by Shuzhen Li, Chong Li, Si Chen, Xiaoying Wang, Jinmei Liu, Xuejuan Deng, Huiyi Cai and Guohua Liu
Fermentation 2023, 9(4), 346; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation9040346
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/9/4/346

3. “Integration of Corn and Cane for Ethanol Production: Effects of Lactobacilli Contamination on Fermentative Parameters and Use of Ionizing Radiation Treatment for Disinfection”
by Ana Paula Maria da Silva, Pietro Sica, Lucas de Almeida Nobre Pires, Liandra Spironello, Layna Amorim Mota, Gustavo Theodoro Peixoto, Rubens Perez Calegari, Thiago Olitta Basso, Aldo Tonso, Marcelo Pego Gomes et al.
Fermentation 2023, 9(2), 89; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation9020089
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/9/2/89

4. “Repeated-Batch Ethanol Fermentation from Sweet Sorghum Stem Juice under a Very High Gravity Condition Using a Stirred Tank Bioreactor Coupled with a Column Bioreactor by Immobilized Saccharomyces cerevisiae”
by Benjaporn Sriputorn, Lakkana Laopaiboon and Pattana Laopaiboon
Fermentation 2023, 9(2), 159; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation9020159
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/9/2/159

5. “Production of Pigments under Submerged Culture through Repeated Batch Fermentation of Immobilized Talaromyces atroroseus GH2”
by Juan Pablo Ruiz-Sánchez, Lourdes Morales-Oyervides, Daniele Giuffrida, Laurent Dufossé and Julio César Montañez
Fermentation 2023, 9(2), 171; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation9020171
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/9/2/171

6. “Scale-Up of Pigment Production by the Marine-Derived Filamentous Fungus, Talaromyces albobiverticillius 30548, from Shake Flask to Stirred Bioreactor”
by Mekala Venkatachalam, Gary Mares, Laurent Dufossé and Mireille Fouillaud
Fermentation 2023, 9(1), 77; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation9010077
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/9/1/77

7. “Highly Active Astaxanthin Production from Waste Molasses by Mutated Rhodosporidium toruloides G17”
by Tuyet Nhung Tran, Ngoc-Tri Tran, Thu-Anh Tran, Dinh-Chuong Pham, Chia-Hung Su, Hoang Chinh Nguyen, Colin J. Barrow and Dai-Nghiep Ngo
Fermentation 2023, 9(2), 148; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation9020148
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/9/2/148

8. “Statistical Medium Optimization for the Production of Anti-Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Metabolites from a Coal-Mining-Soil-Derived Streptomyces rochei CMB47”
by Ibtissem Djinni, Warda Djoudi, Chahinaz Boumezoued, Halima Barchiche, Samiha Souagui, Mouloud Kecha and Ines Mancini
Fermentation 2023, 9(4), 381; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation9040381
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/9/4/381

9. “Dual Emerging Applications of Solid-State Fermentation (SSF) with Aspergillus niger and Ultrasonic-Assisted Extraction (UAE) for the Obtention of Antimicrobial Polyphenols from Pineapple Waste”
by Sarah L. Paz-Arteaga, Edith Cadena-Chamorro, Liliana Serna-Cock, Harlen Torres-Castañeda, Omar V. Pabón-Rodríguez, Carlos E. Agudelo-Morales, Nathiely Ramírez-Guzmán, Juan A. Ascacio-Valdés, Cristóbal N. Aguilar and Cristian Torres-León
Fermentation 2023, 9(8), 706; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation9080706
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/9/8/706

10. “Biosynthesis of Nicotinamide Mononucleotide: Current Metabolic Engineering Strategies, Challenges, and Prospects”
by Shiqi Luo, Juntao Zhao, Yangyang Zheng, Tao Chen and Zhiwen Wang
Fermentation 2023, 9(7), 594; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation9070594
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/9/7/594

Special Issues:

1. “Applications of Computer Science and AI to Fermented Foods and Beverages”
Edited by Dr. Bernard Chen
Submission deadline: 31 March 2025

2. “Optimization and Analysis of the Fermentation Process for Microbial Products: 2nd Edition”
Edited by Dr. Xidong Ren
Submission deadline: 31 January 2025

3. “Computer and Mathematical Simulation of Microbial Fermentations: The Choice of Models, Parameter Estimation and Applications”
Edited by Dr. Nicolai S. Panikov
Submission deadline: 30 January 2025

4. “The Development of Anaerobic Digestion Systems”
Edited by Dr. Yeqing Li
Submission deadline: 31 December 2024

5. “Fermentation Processes: Modeling, Optimization and Control: 2nd Edition”
Edited by Dr. Ricardo Aguilar-López
Submission deadline: 31 December 2024

6. “Modeling, Control and Optimization of Wine Fermentation”
Edited by Prof. Dr. André Knoesen and Prof. Dr. Roger Boulton
Submission deadline: 30 December 2024

As a leader in open access publishing, MDPI is eager to explore new collaboration opportunities, including the launch of new journals and the transfer of existing ones. At present, MDPI publishes over 400 journals, more than 160 of which have established partnerships with academic organizations. Additionally, we publish 19 association journals.

In order to enhance exchange and cooperation with scientific researchers and share the results of open science, MDPI invites experts and scholars from various fields to submit proposals for new journal collaboration opportunities. If your proposal is approved, you could take on the role of Editor-in-Chief, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, or Editorial Board Member of the journal. This position allows you to manage the manuscript review process alongside our editorial department, participate in calls for papers, strengthen your network with scholars in the field, expand scientific research cooperation, enhance your personal and academic influence internationally, and play a leading role in academia.

Once the new journal is online, MDPI will provide a variety of promotional channels to market the journal internationally.

MDPI will offer various promotional channels to enhance its visibility and promote it internationally.

How can you determine the theme of a new journal?

• Assess research hotspots/academic frontiers;
• Assess pioneers in the field/key research directions of universities;
• Determine whether MDPI has already established a journal in the field.

You can browse MDPI’s existing journals at the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/about/journals.

Advantages of collaborating with MDPI:

• MDPI is a global leader in open-access publishing with extensive academic resources.
• MDPI offers a professional publishing team that provides comprehensive support throughout the publishing process.
• MDPI’s diverse promotional platforms and channels help journals quickly increase their international visibility and influence.

We invite you to submit new journal proposal here, and contribute to academic development! In addition, if your institution (university, institute, college, national key laboratory, society, etc.) intends to establish a journal, you can also submit a draft to MDPI on its behalf.

MDPI journals will be attending the Fifth National Conference on Food Biotechnology as exhibitors. This conference will be held in Shanghai, China, from 26 to 27 October 2024.

This conference focuses on artificial intelligence and biotechnology used to drive the high-quality development and new quality productivity of the food industry. The conference aims to bring together the wisdom of experts, scholars and industry representatives in the field of food biotechnology and cross-cutting areas, covering the cutting-edge hotspots, subversive technologies and development directions in this field and promoting the cross-fertilization of biotechnology and the food industry based on the intelligent base of artificial intelligence.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Fermentation;
• BioTech;
• Bioengineering;
• Microorganisms;
• Applied Sciences;
• Foods.

If you are attending this conference, please feel free to start a conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions you may have.

MDPI journals frequently grant travel awards to empower junior researchers to showcase their latest research at academic conferences, thereby amplifying their impact within their research fields.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the 103 recipients of MDPI's 2023 Travel Awards from different countries and territories for their exceptional presentations. These outstanding individuals were selected by the journal editors based on the strength of their research proposals and the anticipated impact of their presentations at academic conferences. We commend their exceptional contributions and wish them continued success in their academic endeavors.

MDPI will continue to provide support and recognition to the academic community. To learn more about the list of awardees, please visit the following pages:

• Biology and Life Sciences;
• Chemistry and Materials Sciences;
• Engineering;
• Environmental and Earth Sciences;
• Medicine and Pharmacology;
• Public Health and Healthcare;
• Others.

About MDPI Awards:

To reward the academic community, especially young researchers, and enhance communication among scientists, MDPI journals regularly offer various awards to researchers in specific fields. These awards, serving as a source of inspiration and recognition, help raise the influence of talented individuals who have been credited with outstanding achievements and are making a significant contribution to the advancement of their fields.

To explore more MDPI awards, please click here.

MDPI’s Best PhD Thesis Awards are granted to promising young scholars whose PhD theses are deemed exceptional within their respective research fields. These awards aim to encourage young scholars to continue their outstanding accomplishments and further contribute to their field.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the 54 winners of the 2023 Best PhD Thesis Awards and wish them success with their future research endeavors.

MDPI will continue to provide support and recognition to the academic community. To learn more about all the awardees and their research projects in your field of study, please visit the following pages:

About MDPI Awards:

To reward the academic community, especially young researchers, and enhance communication among scientists, MDPI journals regularly offer various awards to researchers in specific fields. These awards, serving as a source of inspiration and recognition, help raise the influence of talented individuals who have been credited with outstanding achievements and are making a significant contribution to the advancement of their fields.

To explore more MDPI awards, please click here.

We are delighted to share some highly cited papers from the Section “Industrial Fermentation” that were published in Fermentation (ISSN: 2311-5637) in 2022 and 2023. In addition, some Special Issues in this Section are currently open for submission. The following is a list of articles and Special Issues that may be of interest to you.

1. “Valorization of Brewers’ Spent Grains: Pretreatments and Fermentation, a Review”
by Sara Mitri, Sarah-Joe Salameh, Anissa Khelfa, Estelle Leonard, Richard G. Maroun, Richard G. Maroun and Mohamed Koubaa
Fermentation 2022, 8(2), 50; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation8020050
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/8/2/50

2. “Improve Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Lignocellulosic Biomass by Modifying Lignin Structure via Sulfite Pretreatment and Using Lignin Blockers”
by Caoxing Huang, Ruolin Li, Wei Tang, Yayue Zheng and Xianzhi Meng
Fermentation 2022, 8(10), 558; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation8100558
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/8/10/558

3. “Single Cell Protein Production through Multi Food-Waste Substrate Fermentation”
by Alessia Tropea, Antonio Ferracane, Ambrogina Albergamo, Angela Giorgia Potortì, Vincenzo Lo Turco and Giuseppa Di Bella
Fermentation 2022, 8(3), 91; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation8030091
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/8/3/91

4. “Impact of Natural Degradation on the Aged Lignocellulose Fibers of Moroccan Cedar Softwood: Structural Elucidation by Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD)”
by Yousra Bouramdane, Somia Fellak, Fouad El Mansouri and Abdellatif Boukir
Fermentation 2022, 8(12), 698; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation8120698
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/8/12/698

5. “The Potential of Marine Microalgae for the Production of Food, Feed, and Fuel (3F)”
by Chandan Mahata, Probir Das, Shoyeb Khan, Mahmoud I. A. Thaher, Mohammed Abdul Quadir, Mohammed Abdul Quadir and Hareb Al Jabri
Fermentation 2022, 8(7), 316; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation8070316
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/8/7/316

6. “Enzymatic Hydrolysis Strategies for Cellulosic Sugars Production to Obtain Bioethanol from Eucalyptus globulus Bark”
by Mariana S. T. Amândio, Jorge M. S. Rocha and Ana M. R. B. Xavier
Fermentation 2023, 9(3), 241; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation9030241
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/9/3/241

7. “Microalgal Feedstock for Biofuel Production: Recent Advances, Challenges, and Future Perspective”
by Shoyeb Khan, Probir Das, Mohammed Abdul Quadir, Mahmoud Ibrahim Thaher, Chandan Mahata, Sami Sayadi and Hareb Al-Jabri
Fermentation 2023, 9(3), 281; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation9030281
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/9/3/281

8. “Anaerobic Digestion of Lignocellulosic Biomass: Substrate Characteristics (Challenge) and Innovation”
by Christy E. Manyi-Loh and Ryk Lues
Fermentation 2023, 9(8), 755; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation9080755
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/9/8/755

9. “Potential and Restrictions of Food-Waste Valorization through Fermentation Processes”
by Mariana Ortiz-Sanchez, Mariana Ortiz-Sanchez, Andrés Felipe Alzate-Ramírez and Carlos Ariel Cardona Alzate
Fermentation 2023, 9(3), 274; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation9030274
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/9/3/274

10. “Effects of Temperature Shifts on Microbial Communities and Biogas Production: An In-Depth Comparison”
by Gede Adi Wiguna Sudiartha, Tsuyoshi Imai, Chonticha Mamimin and Alissara Reungsang
Fermentation 2023, 9(7), 642; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation9070642
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/9/7/642

Special Issues:
1. “Biotechnological Valorization Approaches for Food Waste”
Guest Editor: Alessia Tropea
Submission deadline: 28 February 2025

2. “Algae Biotechnology for Biofuel Production and Bioremediation”
Guest Editor: Toshiyuki Takahashi
Submission deadline: 30 November 2024

3. “Microbial and Enzymatic Degradation of Plastics”
Guest Editor: David B. Levin
Submission deadline: 30 December 2024

4. “Microbial Biorefineries: 2nd Edition”
Guest Editors: Teresa Lopes Da Silva and Alberto Delgado Dos Reis
Submission deadline: 15 December 2024

5. “Energy Converter: Anaerobic Digestion, 2nd Edition”
Guest Editor: Liang Yu
Submission deadline: 31 December 2024

6. “Research with Clostridium Species in Biofuel and Biochemical Product Production”
Guest Editor: Thaddeus Ezeji
Submission deadline: 15 December 2024

We are delighted to share some highly cited papers in the Section “Microbial Metabolism, Physiology & Genetics” that were published in Fermentation (ISSN: 2311-5637) in 2022–2023. In addition, some Special Issues in this Section are currently open for submission. The following is a list of articles and Special Issues that may be of interest to you.

1. “Lipase from Yarrowia lipolytica: Prospects as an Industrial Biocatalyst for Biotechnological Applications”
by Jessica Lopes da Silva, Misael Bessa Sales, Viviane de Castro Bizerra, Millena Mara Rabelo Nobre, Ana Kátia de Sousa Braz, Patrick da Silva Sousa, Antônio L. G. Cavalcante, Rafael L. F. Melo, Paulo Gonçalves De Sousa Junior, Francisco S. Neto et al.
Fermentation 2023, 9(7), 581; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation9070581
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/9/7/581

2. “Advances in Komagataella phaffii Engineering for the Production of Renewable Chemicals and Proteins”
by Clara Vida Galrão Corrêa Carneiro, Luana Assis Serra, Thályta Fraga Pacheco, Letícia Maria Mallmann Ferreira, Lívia Teixeira Duarte Brandão, Mariana Nogueira de Moura Freitas, Débora Trichez and João Ricardo Moreira de Almeida
Fermentation 2022, 8(11), 575; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation8110575
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/8/11/575

3. “Microalgae and Cyanobacteria Biomass Pretreatment Methods: A Comparative Analysis of Chemical and Thermochemical Pretreatment Methods Aimed at Methane Production”
by Maria C. de Oliveira, Isabelli D. Bassin and Magali C. Cammarota
Fermentation 2022, 8(10), 497; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation8100497
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/8/10/497

4. “Yeasts as Producers of Flavor Precursors during Cocoa Bean Fermentation and Their Relevance as Starter Cultures: A Review”
by Hugo Gabriel Gutiérrez-Ríos, Mirna Leonor Suárez-Quiroz, Zorba Josué Hernández-Estrada, Olaya Pirene Castellanos-Onorio, Rodrigo Alonso-Villegas, Patricia Rayas-Duarte, Cynthia Cano-Sarmiento, Claudia Yuritzi Figueroa-Hernández and Oscar González-Rios
Fermentation 2022, 8(7), 331; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation8070331
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/8/7/331

5. “Production of Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid by Levilactobacillus brevis CD0817 by Coupling Fermentation with Self-Buffered Whole-Cell Catalysis”
by Haixing Li, Tianyi Sun, Mengya Jia, Lingqin Wang, Cheng Wei, Jinfeng Pei, Zhiyu Lin and Shuixing Wang
Fermentation 2022, 8(7), 321; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation8070321
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/8/7/321

6. “Development of a Microalgae-Based Continuous Starch-to-Hydrogen Conversion Approach”
by Bettina Hupp, Bernadett Pap, Attila Farkas and Gergely Maróti
Fermentation 2022, 8(7), 294; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation8070294
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/8/7/294

7. “Dynamic Variations in Rumen Fermentation Characteristics and Bacterial Community Composition during In Vitro Fermentation”
by Xiao Wei, Kehui Ouyang, Tanghui Long, Zuogui Liu, Yanjiao Li and Qinghua Qiu
Fermentation 2022, 8(6), 276; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation8060276
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/8/6/276

8. “Biosynthesis and Production of Class II Bacteriocins of Food-Associated Lactic Acid Bacteria”
by Tingting Zhang, Yu Zhang, Lin Li, Xiuqi Jiang, Zhuo Chen, Fan Zhao and Yanglei Yi
Fermentation 2022, 8(5), 217; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation8050217
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/8/5/217

9. “Effects of Microbial Inoculation with Different Indigenous Bacillus Species on Physicochemical Characteristics and Bacterial Succession during Short-Term Composting”
by Jiayu Niu and Xiufen Li
Fermentation 2022, 8(4), 152; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation8040152
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/8/4/152

10. “High-Gossypol Whole Cottonseed Exhibited Mediocre Rumen Degradability and Less Microbial Fermentation Efficiency than Cottonseed Hull and Cottonseed Meal with an In Vitro Gas Production Technique”
by Weikang Wang, Qichao Wu, Wenjuan Li, Yanlu Wang, Fan Zhang, Liangkang Lv, Shengli Li and Hongjian Yang
Fermentation 2022, 8(3), 103; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation8030103
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/8/3/103

Special Issues:

1. “Pigment Production in Submerged Fermentation: Second Edition”
Guest Editors: Mekala Venkatachalam and Laurent Dufossé
Submission deadline: 31 May 2025

2. “Yarrowia lipolytica: A Beneficial Yeast as a Biofactory for Biotechnological Applications: 3rd Edition”
Guest Editor: Bartłomiej Zieniuk
Submission deadline: 31 January 2025

3. “New Research on Strains Improvement and Microbial Biosynthesis, 2nd Edition”
Guest Editors: Penka Petrova and Kaloyan Petrov
Submission deadline: 31 January 2025

4. “Feature Review Papers in Microbial Metabolism, Physiology & Genetics, 2nd Edition”
Guest Editor: Ronnie Willaert
Submission deadline: 31 December 2025

5. “Natural Product Heterologous Biosynthesis in Engineered Microorganisms”
Guest Editors: Hui Li and Yibin Qiu
Submission deadline: 30 December 2024

6. “Saccharomyces cerevisiae Strains and Fermentation: 2nd Edition”
Guest Editor: Chiara Nadai
Submission deadline: 31 December 2024

1. “Use of Mixed Cultures for the Production of Grape–Plum Low-Alcohol Fermented Beverages”
by Daniel Moreno, Patricia Redondo, Eduardo Lozano, M. Esperanza Valdés and Francisco Pérez-Nevado
Fermentation 2023, 9(1), 29; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation9010029
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/9/1/29

2. “Spatially Offset Raman Spectroscopic (SORS) Analysis of Wine Alcoholic Fermentation: A Preliminary Study”
by Daniel Schorn-García, Jokin Ezenarro, Laura Aceña, Olga Busto, Ricard Boqué, Barbara Giussani and Montserrat Mestres
Fermentation 2023, 9(2), 115; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation9020115
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/9/2/115

3. “Pilot Scale Evaluation of Wild Saccharomyces cerevisiae Strains in Aglianico”
by Davide Gottardi, Gabriella Siesto, Antonio Bevilacqua, Francesca Patrignani, Daniela Campaniello, Barbara Speranza, Rosalba Lanciotti, Angela Capece and Patrizia Romano
Fermentation 2023, 9(3), 245; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation9030245
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/9/3/245

4. “Quantitative PCR Assay as a Tool for the Detection of Lactobacilli in Sicilian Table Olives Produced at an Industrial Scale”
by Amanda Vaccalluzzo, Alessandra Pino, Georgiana Bosco, Cinzia Caggia and Cinzia Lucia Randazzo
Fermentation 2023, 9(4), 355; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation9040355
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/9/4/355

5. “The Effect of Solid-State Fermentation on the Nutritive Value of Rapeseed Cakes and Performance of Broiler Chickens”
by Anita Zaworska-Zakrzewska, Małgorzata Kasprowicz-Potocka, Bartosz Kierończyk and Damian Józefiak
Fermentation 2023, 9(5), 435; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation9050435
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/9/5/435

6. “Fermentation of Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) Pulp by Laetiporus persicinus Yields a Novel Beverage with Tropical Aroma”
by Victoria Klis, Eva Pühn, Jeanny Jaline Jerschow, Marco Alexander Fraatz and Holger Zorn
Fermentation 2023, 9(6), 533; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation9060533
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/9/6/533

7. “Microbial Ecology of Pecorino Siciliano PDO Cheese Production Systems”
by Silvia Ruta, Matthew Murray, Zoe Kampff, Brian McDonnell, Gabriele Andrea Lugli, Marco Ventura, Massimo Todaro, Luca Settanni, Douwe van Sinderen and Jennifer Mahony
Fermentation 2023, 9(7), 620; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation9070620
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/9/7/620

8. “Evaluation of Long-Term Fermentation Performance with Engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae Strains”
by Maarten L. De Mol, Victoria Marcoen, Isabelle Maryns, Nico Snoeck, Joeri J. Beauprez, Sofie L. De Maeseneire and Wim K. Soetaert
Fermentation 2023, 9(8), 721; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation9080721
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/9/8/721

9. “Sequential Inoculation of Metschnikowia pulcherrima and Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a Biotechnological Tool to Increase the Terpenes Content of Pecorino White Wines”
by Giorgia Perpetuini, Alessio Pio Rossetti, Luca Quadrani, Giuseppe Arfelli, Andrea Piva, Giovanna Suzzi and Rosanna Tofalo
Fermentation 2023, 9(9), 785; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation9090785
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/9/9/785

10. “Cloning and Characterization of Cellulase from Paenibacillus peoriae MK1 Isolated from Soil”
by Sang Jin Kim, Kyung-Chul Shin, Dae Wook Kim, Yeong-Su Kim and Chang-Su Park
Fermentation 2023, 9(10), 873; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation9100873
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/9/10/873

11. “Design-of-Experiment-Guided Establishment of a Fermentative Bioprocess for Biomass-Bound Astaxanthin with Corynebacterium glutamicum”
by Florian Meyer, Ina Schmitt, Thomas Schäffer, Volker F. Wendisch and Nadja A. Henke
Fermentation 2023, 9(11), 969; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation9110969
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/9/11/969

12. “Generation of a Culex Male Mosquito Sex-Separation RNAi Yeast Strain Using Cas-CLOVER and Super PiggyBac Engineering in Saccharomyces cerevisiae”
by Corey Brizzee, Keshava Mysore, Teresia M. Njoroge, Seth McConnell, Jack Crawford and Molly Duman-Scheel
Fermentation 2023, 9(12), 999; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation9120999
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/9/12/999

MDPI’s Young Investigator Awards recognize promising early career scientists, acknowledge their contributions, and foster collaboration within the scientific community. We are proud to announce the recipients for 2023, who were carefully selected by the journals’ esteemed Award Evaluation Committee.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the 79 winners of MDPI’s 2023 Young Investigator Awards for their excellent contributions in their research field. We look forward to seeing these rising stars continue to contribute to the advancement of science.

MDPI will continue to support and recognize the academic community. To explore details about the awardees by field, please visit the individual pages listed below:

Congratulations to all the winners for their exceptional contributions and dedication to advancing scientific research.

About MDPI Awards:
To support the academic community, particularly young researchers, and to enhance communication among scientists, MDPI journals regularly offer various awards to researchers in specific fields. These awards, serving as a source of inspiration and recognition, help to elevate the profiles of talented individuals who have made outstanding achievements and are making significant contributions to advancements in their respective fields.

To find out more about MDPI awards, please click here.

In May, MDPI Romania held three author training sessions – one endorsing an external event and two stand-alone sessions.

The National Session of Scientific Student Communications took place at Technical University Cluj on 17 and 18 May 2024. MDPI Romania sponsored this event and contributed an author training session on the production of research papers and case study analyses. JRS Norbert Kiss gave a presentation called The World of Open Access to explain different open access publishing models and the benefits of open access publishing. His presentation highlighted the impact of open access publishing on scientific progress and innovation.

On 29 May 2024, MDPI Romania hosted an author training session for Ph.D. students, early career researchers, and professors at the Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy. In collaboration with Prof. Andreea Arsene, JRS Ioana Paunescu prepared two presentations: The Steps of the Publishing Process and Elaboration of a Peer Review Report. In her first presentation, she delved into MDPI’s history and mission, MDPI’s editorial process, and MDPI journals of various scopes that are accepting submissions. Her second presentation outlined the types of peer review, the contents of a peer review report by an MDPI reviewer, and the responsibilities of an MDPI reviewer.

MDPI Romania also hosted an author training session at the Iasi University of Life Sciences on 29 May 2024. JRSs Laurentiu Preda and Cosmin Artan gave four presentations: Efficient Writing of an ISI-Indexed Scientific Article, Benefits of Publishing in the Open Access Model, Various Methods of Open Access Publishing, and MDPI Guide for the Article Review Process. The first three presentations offered guidance on how to improve academic writing, the fourth focused on how to write peer review reports. A highly interactive discussion followed the presentations, during which the JRSs provided extensive answers to attendees’ questions.

MDPI is grateful for all the attendees, speakers, and organizers involved in these events. Through their enthusiasm and dedication, these events were great successes.

MDPI will be attending the 22nd World Congress of Food Science and Technology, which will be held from 8 to 12 September 2024, in Rimini, Italy.

The congress aims to outline the new challenges the sector faces and to achieve this, the congress will serve as a multi- and interdisciplinary meeting of all scientific communities. More than 2500 delegates from the Americas, Europe, the Asia–Pacific, and all over the globe will be in attendance.

The conference will include industry-based workshops, distinguished plenary and keynote speakers, industry-led concurrent sessions, applied research presentations, and a plethora of networking opportunities.

The following MDPI journals will be represented at the conference:

• Foods;
• Fermentation;
• Nutrients;
• Antioxidants;
• Beverages;
• Dairy;
• Safety;
• Processes.

We are pleased to announce that Prof. Dr. Thaddeus Ezeji has been appointed Section Editor-in-Chief of the “Fermentation Process Design” Section in Fermentation (ISSN: 2311-5637). With his extensive background in scientific research and publishing, he will bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to this prestigious role.

The following is a short Q&A with Prof. Dr. Thaddeus Ezeji, who shared his vision for the journal with us, as well as his views on the research area and open access publishing:

1. Could you share some information about the main lines of research of your group with us?
My research program focuses on the following areas:

• Development of processes for extracting sugars from lignocellulosic biomass;
• Process and metabolic engineering of fermenting microorganisms to optimize the production of fuels and chemicals;
• Understanding the generation of lignocellulose-derived microbial inhibitory compounds (LDMICs) during the hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass, and their effects on fermenting microorganisms;
• Understanding and developing strategies to ameliorate the undesirable effects of lignocellulose LDMICs on fermenting microorganisms;
• Design of fermentation systems compatible with agricultural and industrial wastes;
• To promote sustainable bioproduct production, my laboratory is also actively engaged in recycling food and agricultural wastes by converting them into valuable products as well as the development of effective strategies for the biological treatment of agricultural and industrial wastes (bioremediation).

In collaboration with various Ohio State faculty members, I am actively engaged in outreach programs addressing emerging issues in Ohio's expanding bioenergy sector.

2. What appealed to you about the journal that made you want to become its Section Editor-in-Chief?
I joined the Editorial Board of the Fermentation journal shortly after its inauguration. As a fermentation biologist, I have always felt that there is a gap in the academic world—a dedicated journal with a primary focus on fermentation. While various journals published fermentation-related research, none were specifically devoted to this important field. Considering the significant impact of fermentation on food processing, production, preservation, and the production of drugs and platform chemicals, I believed a dedicated journal was necessary. Consequently, I approached a major American journal publisher with the idea of establishing a dedicated fermentation journal. Despite my enthusiasm, the proposal did not gain much traction. Then, about 9 or 10 years ago, MDPI reached out to me with an offer to serve as one of the Associate Editors for their new Fermentation journal. I accepted the position immediately and have been collaborating with the journal ever since. My commitment to the growth and success of the Fermentation journal is deeply personal. Therefore, when the Section Editor-in-Chief position became available, it was an easy decision to express my interest.

3. What are your plans and vision for the Section and the journal?
As a global publication, my plans and vision for the Fermentation journal include, but are not limited to, the following objectives:

• Uphold and maintain the highest scientific standards, as this is essential for cultivating trust among esteemed scientists;
• Foster inclusivity and a strong commitment to diversity by reaching out to scientists in countries that are currently less familiar with the Fermentation journal;
• Collaborate with authors to ensure the publication of high-quality science, recognizing that scientific publications can significantly influence important private and governmental decisions;
• Position the journal as a leading voice and contributor in the fields of biomanufacturing and sustainability.

4. As an expert in the field of fermentation, which research topics do you think are popular at present, and what does the future of this field of research look like?
I would say they are biomanufacturing and environmental sustainability. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, biomanufacturing involves using living organisms and cells to produce molecules or other biological materials for products such as medicines, food, and drinks. Southern New Hampshire University emphasizes that environmental sustainability aims to balance ecological, economic, and social goals, such as reducing carbon emissions, promoting renewable energy, and ensuring equitable resource access. Clearly, biomanufacturing and environmental sustainability complement each other, and fermentation plays a crucial role in achieving these goals.

5. You have been collaborating with Fermentation as a Guest Editor, leading multiple Special Issues. Can you share with us more about your experience as Guest Editor over the past few years?
My experience with the editorial staff of the Fermentation journal has been wonderful. They are punctual and proactive in planning and executing their work. While there are occasional setbacks, such as authors promising to contribute a manuscript but not following through, this is to be expected in the nature of the business.

6. What do you think of the development of open access in the publishing field?
The introduction of open access in the publishing field is beneficial because it facilitates the free availability of scientific articles to anybody with internet access. This accessibility allows researchers from developing countries or institutions with limited resources to access scientific papers without financial barriers. Additionally, open access publishing fosters greater collaboration among researchers worldwide. This can potentially accelerate scientific discovery and innovation. However, open access also has drawbacks. High publication costs can create barriers for researchers with meager funding or those whose funding does not cover publication expenses. Furthermore, the rise of open access has led to the proliferation of predatory journals, which charge fees without subjecting scientific manuscripts to a rigorous peer review process. I have heard stories of publishers overriding editors' rejections of manuscripts and proceeding with their publication. However, I am pleased to say that the peer review process in the Fermentation journal is rigorous, and editors' recommendations are unequivocally respected.

We wish Prof. Dr. Thaddeus Ezeji every success in his new position, and we look forward to his contributions to the journal.

Five new journals covering multiple subjects have launched their inaugural issue in June 2024. We are excited to be able to share with you the newest research rooted in the value of open access.

We would like to express our deepest appreciation to all the Editorial Board Members and each journal will ensure its high-quality output using excellent editorial and rigorous peer review processes, to ensure that the articles achieve high impact and visibility.

Please feel free to browse and discover more about the new journals below.

Journal	Founding Editor-in-Chief	Journal Topics (Selected)
	Prof. Dr. Marco Ranucci, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, Italy | Editorial | view inaugural issue	anaesthetic medications; blood and fluid management; pain management; critical care; critical illness | view journal scope | submit an article
	Dr. Giovanni E. Cacciamani, University of Southern California, USA | Editorial | view inaugural issue	surgical/procedural complications; complications; perioperative adverse events; postoperative adverse events | view journal scope | submit an article
	Prof. Dr.  Gassan Hodaifa, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Spain | Editorial | view inaugural issue	laboratory management; laboratory safety; protective equipment; laboratory problems and challenges; laboratory Innovation | view journal scope | submit an article
	Prof. Dr. Jan S. Suchodolski, Texas A&M University, USA | Editorial | view inaugural issue	companion animals health and disease; veterinary care and nutrition; genetics and genomics; behavior and welfare; human-animal relations | view journal scope | submit an article
	Prof. Dr. Pierfrancesco De Paola, University of Naples Federico II, Italy | Editorial | view inaugural issue	real estate appraisal; economic and financial valuation of real estate projects; sustainable real estate; housing and urban economics | view journal scope | submit an article

We wish to thank everyone who has supported the development of open access publishing. You are welcome to send an application here, or contact the New Journal Committee ([email protected]) if you would like to create more new journals.

MDPI is pleased to announce the inclusion of 237 journals in the 2024 release of the Journal Citation Reports (JCR) and share the key results (see above).

This year, journals covered in the Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI) received category ranks together with journals in the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) and Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI). Overall, 139 MDPI journals indexed in ESCI are included in the new unified rankings for the first time.

Enhanced Comparability of Data

According to Clarivate, "the creation of unified category rankings [provides] a simpler and more complete category view for the evaluation of journal performance. [...] The category-first approach simplifies journal performance assessment with a holistic view of all journals in each subject category."

We are thrilled to announce that 72% of our ranked MDPI journals (171 of 237) are above average, in Q1 or Q2. Twenty-nine of our journals received their first Impact Factor this year, accounting for more than 5% of the journals accepted into the Web of Science last year.

MDPI Journals Ranked in JCR

The following data includes all MDPI journals indexed in SCIE, SSCI, ESCI and AHCI.

Source: 2023 Journal Impact Factors, Journal Citation Reports ^TM (Clarivate, 2024)

About MDPI

A pioneer in scholarly, open access publishing, MDPI has supported academic communities since 1996. MDPI is leading the transition to open science by making more research free and accessible to everyone. Over 3.5 million researchers have entrusted MDPI with publishing their scientific discoveries. MDPI’s editorial process is bolstered by a network of dedicated reviewers, a team of 6000 professional, well-trained staff members, and an in-house article submission platform that was designed to ensure efficient processes within its 440 fully open access titles.

MDPI will be attending the 28th International ICFMH Conference, which will be held from 8 to 11 July 2024, in BURGOS, Spain.

This conference will focus on the latest advances in new technologies in food production and microbiological analysis. It is an opportunity to delve into cutting-edge research and technological breakthroughs, exploring the ways in which innovation is driving improvements in food safety and quality.

The conference covers a range of topics, including new trends in food processing, innovative approaches to food safety and quality, and novel methods for microbial analysis. In addition, some emerging field topics are discussed for the first time, such as microplastics and microbiome interactions.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Foods;
• Microorganisms;
• Pathogens;
• Obesities;
• Applied Microbiology;
• Dietetics;
• Applied Biosciences;
• Dairy;
• Nutrients;
• Life;
• Fermentation;
• Antibiotics.

On UNESCO’s 2024 Oceans Day, MDPI encourages the scientific community to increase the accessibility of ocean research to accelerate ocean conservation.

Basel, Switzerland, June 7, 2024: MDPI, a leading open access (OA) publisher, is proud to announce its active support for World Oceans Day 2024, celebrated under UNESCO’s Ocean Decade framework. MDPI’s CEO, Stefan Tochev hopes that “the latest ocean research can be made freely accessible to help empower scientists and communities at large to save our oceans,” under UNESCO’s Ocean Decade until 2030.

Open Access: A Catalyst for Ocean Action

MDPI’s presence at the UNESCO Ocean Decade Conference 2024 highlights our unwavering commitment to using OA to advance ocean science, support research communities, and promote sustainable ocean management.

"Our involvement in the UNESCO Ocean Decade Conference underscores MDPI's commitment to the underfunded Ocean SDG. By promoting OA to scientific articles and books on SDGs, we aim to inspire critical actions," said Tochev. "Our initiatives, like the World Sustainability Award and Emerging Sustainability Award, further demonstrate our dedication to advancing sustainability.”

Showcasing MDPI’s Contributions to Ocean Research

Over the past three years, MDPI has published 30,000 papers focused on ocean research and related topics. Key MDPI journals contributing to this body of work include:

• Journal of Marine Science and Engineering (4.9k papers)
• Remote Sensing (2.6k papers)
• Sustainability (2k papers)
• International Journal of Molecular Sciences (IJMS) (1.7k papers)
• Marine Drugs (1.5k papers)
• Water (1.5k papers)

These publications highlight MDPI’s contributions to ocean science, reinforcing our role in the broader sustainability agenda by promoting blue innovation and economy.

Additionally, MDPI has launched Oceans, an international, peer-reviewed forum specifically aimed at publishing studies related to all branches of oceanography with an emphasis on the functioning of the ocean and the sustainable use of its resources and ecosystem services.

Affirming MDPI’s Commitment to Ocean Science

MDPI’s commitment to OA is pivotal in addressing critical global challenges, from climate change to ocean sustainability. Our efforts resonate with Outcome 4 of the UNESCO Ocean Decade action roadmap: an accessible ocean with open and equitable access to data, information, technology, and innovation. By aligning with UNESCO’s goals, MDPI continues to contribute to shaping a sustainable future for our oceans, reinforcing our position as a forward-thinking publisher dedicated to environmental stewardship and scientific excellence.

For more information, contact Rui Duarte at [email protected] or +41764313242.

About MDPI

95% of authors rate MDPI’s publication process as excellent or good, setting a new benchmark in scientific publishing – reveals 2023 Annual Report. 

Basel, Switzerland, June 4, 2024: MDPI, the leading open access (OA) publisher, proudly announces the release of its 2023 Annual Report, detailing remarkable achievements and reaffirming its leadership in advancing OA publishing. In 2023, MDPI received 655,065 submissions, of which 285,244 articles were published. The company now commands a 17% market share in gold open access articles, with a median publication time of six weeks.

Stefan Tochev, MDPI's CEO, stated, "As a pioneer in open access publishing, MDPI has long been a game-changer in the scholarly community, serving millions of authors around the world to ensure the latest research is freely available. Reflecting on our incredible journey at MDPI, 2023 has been marked by growth in paper submissions, ambitious projects and initiatives aimed at improving our internal processes and delivering top-notch services to our scientists."

MDPI's 2023 Annual Report highlights several key achievements:

• 17% market share in gold open access articles across all disciplines.
• Record satisfaction rates: 95% of authors, 82% of reviewers, and 85% of guest editors.
• Enhanced editorial standards and feedback processes.
• Increased reach and impact with 54 new MDPI journal inclusions in Scopus, 29 in Web of Science, and 77 in DOAJ.

MDPI’s unwavering commitment to advancing OA has transformed the landscape of scholarly publishing, making high-quality research freely accessible to the global scientific community. The continuous improvement in our editorial standards and feedback processes underscores MDPI’s dedication to ensuring academic integrity and excellence.

Global Reach and Collaboration

MDPI’s global footprint continues to expand, with authors from diverse regions: 37% from Asia/Pacific, 36% from Europe, 15% from the Americas, and 12% from other parts of the world. The company’s fully OA platform attracted nearly 14 million monthly visitors in 2023, reflecting its widespread influence in the scientific community.

Commitment to Partnerships

With over 800 institutional partners, MDPI continues to demonstrate its dedication to providing reliable and collaborative publishing services. The introduction of a transparent flat-fee model highlights MDPI's ongoing efforts to enhance affordability and support to the academic community. For more details read our 2023 Annual Report.

For more information, contact Rui Duarte at [email protected] or +41764313242.

About MDPI

We are pleased to announce Dr. Edmar Ramos Oliveira-Filho as one of the winners of the Fermentation 2023 Outstanding Reviewer Award.

1. Can you please tell us a little more about yourself and your current research?
I am a biologist, with a Ph.D. in biotechnology. During my master’s and doctoral studies, I have explored the biotechnological production of renewable biopolymers from agro-industrial byproducts. I am currently working with synthetic biology, focused on microbial engineering and the continuous directed evolution of enzymes.

2. Can you please share with us your sentiments upon winning the award?
Winning the award was a great pleasure! I'm delighted that reviewing for Fermentation has positively contributed to the scientific community.

3. Which research topics do you think are of particular interest to the research community in the coming years?
I believe the focus for the coming years will include strategies to mitigate (or deal with) the effects of climate change. Developing upscalable real-world technologies that move us closer to a sustainable society will be essential.

4. Could you share some insights into your approach to reviewing manuscripts? How do you balance thoroughness with efficiency?
My approach to reviewing manuscripts involves taking notes and thinking about potential questions the reader might have when reading the manuscript. It is often necessary to check classic and modern literature to get updated on the study's theme. To ensure a high-quality review, the peer-review process should not be rushed.

5. In your opinion, what are some key qualities that make a review outstanding?
A great review report requires time and dedication. The reviewer must pay attention to details and anticipate questions the readers might have, especially about the techniques used and the results presented.

We are pleased to announce Dr. Thais Suzane Milessi Esteves as one of the winners of the Fermentation 2023 Outstanding Reviewer Award.

The following is an interview with Dr. Thais Suzane Milessi Esteves:

1. Can you please tell us a little more about yourself?
I am a biochemical engineer with a master’s degree in industrial biotechnology and a Ph.D. in chemical engineering. I am Brazilian, and I am currently a professor at the Department of Chemical Engineering (DEQ) at the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar). My main experience throughout my career is in the field of biochemical engineering, working mainly in the valorization of biomass through fermentation or enzymatic processes.

2. What is your current research focus, and why did you choose this research field?
Currently, my main research focus is on the consolidated bioprocessing of biomass, which is an emerging technology where hydrolytic enzyme production, biomass hydrolysis, and fermentation are performed simultaneously in a single bioreactor. In addition, in my research group, we are also working on second-generation bioethanol, Industry 4.0 technologies applied to bioprocesses, cell and enzyme immobilization, and the production of high value-added bioproducts from biomass.

3. When and how did you first become aware of the open access Fermentation journal? How do you think open access impacts authors?
I became aware of Fermentation when I was searching the literature for recent work in my field and looking for a journal to publish my research. In my opinion, OA journals are good for broadening the reach of published articles, in addition to making articles more accessible to readers.

4. What are the key factors and aspects that you consider most when reviewing a manuscript?
I think that the clarity and organization of the manuscript together with a detailed methodology are key factors when reviewing manuscripts. Statistical treatment and a discussion of results and good-quality figures are also important features. Finally, the most important thing is to make clear the novelty and contribution of the manuscript to the field, especially for review manuscripts.

5. In your opinion, what are some key qualities that make a review outstanding?
I believe that a good review report is based on well-detailed and justified suggestions or questions, always keeping the ethics and respect of the authors. In addition, I believe that to complete a good review, it is necessary that the manuscript is inserted in the field of expertise of the reviewer; I often decline review invitations when I feel that I do not have the necessary expertise.

6. What do you think of receiving the Outstanding Reviewer Award? What advice do you have for future reviewers?
I was happy and honored by the recognition. If I could give any advice, it would be to give the time, attention, and respect that we want a reviewer to give to our own work.

We are pleased to announce MDPI’s Transfer Service.

This service provides a convenient method of transferring your manuscript file, along with any reviewer comments, to another journal within our publishing portfolio.

We are committed to helping authors find the right home for their research, and we will provide authors with guidance and technical support through all stages of the transfer process. Authors will be able to choose to transfer in the following two situations:

1. Select alternative journals on submission.

2. Authors are encouraged to transfer manuscripts to other MDPI journals.

More details about the Transfer Service can be found at the following link:

https://www.mdpi.com/authors/transfer-service

In acknowledgment of the groundbreaking achievements of Professor Tu Youyou, the Nobel laureate credited with the discovery of artemisinin, MDPI is proud to announce the Tu Youyou Award. This award, inaugurated in 2016, seeks to honor scholars who excel in the fields of natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry.

Prize:

• CHF 100,000 in total (If there is more than one winner, the prize will be divided equally amongst the winners);
• An award medal for each winner.

Who should be nominated?

• Scientists with outstanding achievements and contributions in the fields of natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry.

Who can submit a nomination?

• Academic research institutes
• Universities
• Academic societies

Any personal nominations are not accepted.

How do I submit a nomination?
Candidates’ institutional affiliations need to submit their nominations for final candidates to the Tu Youyou Award Team directly by email after internal screening, and each institution can only nominate a maximum of two candidates for each edition of the Tu Youyou Award. Please note that the nominations cannot be modified once they are submitted and confirmed by the Tu Youyou Award Team.

Required nomination materials:
Nomination Form (Download)

Schedule:
Nomination deadline: 31 December 2024;
Winner announcement: 30 April 2025.

Contact:
Tu Youyou Award Team ([email protected])

More information can be found on the Tu Youyou Award official website. For any inquiries, do not hesitate to contact the Tu Youyou Award Team.

MDPI Romania sponsored four events over the month of April, contributing author training sessions to each event.

The NutriSciLabs 2024 conference was held at the Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy on 12 April 2024. Organized by the Association of Students from the Faculty of Pharmacy Studies, the conference aimed to enhance students’ academic writing and research skills, and bolster their confidence in participating in the academic world. Ioana Paunescu, journal relations specialist for MDPI Romania, led the training session. Paunescu first outlined MDPI’s history and core values, then explained academic writing techniques, ethics, and similarity percentages. The presentation covered the entire editorial process, highlighting the amount of attention paid to details throughout manuscript processing. Paunescu also discussed common errors that authors make while writing, and how to avoid such errors.

On 13 April 2024, the NextGEN 2.0 Student Conference took place at the Babes-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca. NextGen Healthcare organized this event with the university’s European Students’ Society to discuss European and international current affairs. MDPI Romania contributed an author training session called Steps of the Publication Process. Irina Codruta Zaharia, journal relations specialist, began the session with a general introduction of MDPI before diving into different article types, different layout formats, possible journals to submit to, the MDPI submission checklist, and the MDPI editorial process. By explaining the fundamentals of writing and publishing academic papers, Zaharia imparted valuable industry knowledge to the curious minds present. Participants were eager to engage with Zaharia in the subsequent Q&A session.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the International Conference “Students for Students” has long been a gathering place for undergraduate and postgraduate students of all nationalities to present their work and exchange ideas with each other. This year’s conference was held on 18 April 2024, with MDPI Romania contributing an author training session called The World of Open Access. Key speakers included Dr. Norbert Kiss from MDPI Romania and Prof. Dragos Horvath from Strasbourg University. Dr. Kiss discussed the history of open access, differences between open access publishing and traditional publishing, and implications for open access in the future. Attendees expressed keen interest in the subject, approaching Dr. Kiss with questions about academic publishing as well as his career trajectory.

Most recently, on 26 April 2024, MDPI Romania sponsored the National Symposium of Students from Geology and Geophysics Faculties. The AAPG Students Chapter at the Babes-Bolyai University organized this event as an opportunity for geology students from all Romanian universities to present their work and confer with other researchers. Dr. Kiss gave his lecture The World of Open Access at this event as well.

MDPI is thankful to all the participants, speakers, and organizers who attended these events. Through their enthusiasm and dedication, these events were great successes.

The 2024 American Society for Microbiology Annual Meeting (ASM Microbe 2024) will be held in Atlanta, GA, USA, from 13 to 17 June 2024. This annual meeting is the largest gathering of microbiologists in the world, and it is expected that nearly 8,000 professionals from all over the world will attend the meeting. Founded in 1899, the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) is the oldest and largest single life science society in the world, consisting of more than 50,000 scientists and health professionals, of which more than one-third of the members are from countries and regions outside the United States. The mission of the American Society for Microbiology is to promote and advance the science of microbiology.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Microorganisms;
• JoF;
• Vaccines;
• Antibiotics;
• CIMB;
• Fermentation;
• IJMS;
• Life;
• Phycology;
• Applied Microbiology;
• Biomolecules;
• Metabolites;
• Microbiology Research;
• MPs.

If you are attending this conference, please chat with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://asm.org/Events/ASM-Microbe/Home.

MDPI, the leading Open Access (OA) publisher, announced on Monday that it opened its Korean branch office on 29th April 2024. With this addition, MDPI now operates 21 offices in 12 countries worldwide. Claude Seo, with over 20 years of experience in the academic journal publishing industry, including Nature Publishing Group (NPG), has been appointed as the Office Manager of the Seoul office.

With the establishment of a Seoul office, MDPI aims to actively support Korea scientific communities to further promote the publication of OA journals in the region. As of the end of 2023, Korea ranked sixth worldwide in both submissions and publications of MDPI research papers. MDPI is the number one OA publisher in Korea.

Sungkyunkwan University Joins MDPI’s Institutional Open Access Program

In addition, MDPI announced that Sungkyunkwan University joined MDPI’s Institutional Open Access Program (IOAP). This program offers free access to MDPI online submission system for the institutions and APC discounts to affiliated authors. Thirteen major Korean universities, including Sungkyunkwan University, Kyung Hee University, Chung-Ang University and Catholic University of Korea, have adopted IOAP in Korea.

OA aims to break down barriers that have traditionally restricted access to science, ensuring that knowledge is available to all, regardless of financial situation or institutional affiliations. Authors, academia, and scientific communities are rapidly moving toward OA. MDPI has been at the forefront of reshaping the academic publishing landscape, with OA surpassing subscription-based publishing in 2020.

MDPI CEO Visits Seoul, Korea

In March, Stefan Tochev, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MDPI, visited Korea and met with various stakeholders including government agencies, research and academic institutions, universities. During his visit, Stefan highlighted that MDPI continues to pave the way for a world where science is accessible to all, supporting a global community of inclusive innovation and collaborative solutions.

Stefan expressed excitement about the new venture, stating, "Today marks a significant milestone for MDPI as we celebrate the opening of our new office in Seoul, Korea. This expansion is more than just an increase in our physical footprint, it is a pivotal step in our ongoing commitment to making scientific knowledge more accessible, participatory, and inclusive across the globe."

Claude Seo, reflecting on his new role, commented, "I am delighted to have been offered this position of trust within MDPI, the no. 1 scholarly OA publisher. As we establish our presence in Korea, we are dedicated to integrating into the local community and contributing to its vibrant culture. Our commitment goes beyond business growth; it is about creating a more informed and innovative society by embracing and promoting diversity within the scientific community.”

For further inquiries, please contact our Seoul office directly.

About MDPI

A pioneer in scholarly, open access publishing, MDPI has supported academic communities since 1996. MDPI is leading the transition to open science by making more research free and accessible to everyone. Over 3.3 million researchers have entrusted MDPI with publishing their scientific discoveries. MDPI’s editorial process is bolstered by a network of dedicated reviewers, a team of 6000 diligent, well-trained staff members, and an in-house article submission platform that was designed to ensure efficient processes within its 430 fully OA titles.

We recently had the privilege of interviewing Prof. Dr. Antonio Morata, Section Editor-in-Chief of the “Fermentation for Food and Beverages” Section of Fermentation (ISSN: 2311-5637).

Prof. Dr. Antonio Morata is a professor of food science and technology at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid – UPM (Spain), specialized in wine technology. He is a coordinator of the module of enology and winemaking in the master’s program in viticulture and enology and a coordinator of the master’s program in food engineering at UPM. Prof. Dr. Morata is also a professor of enology and wine technology in the European Master of Viticulture and Enology, Euromaster Vinifera-Erasmus+. He is a Spanish delegate to the group of experts in wine technology and the President of wine microbiology for the International Organizations of Vine and Wine (OIV). Prof. Dr. Morata has authored more than eighty-five research articles, seven books, six journal Special Issues, and twenty-three book chapters. In 2022–2023, Prof. Dr. Morata was listed among the top 2% of scientists worldwide by the Stanford University (USA).

The following is a brief Q&A with Prof. Dr. Antonio Morata:

1. Could you share some information about the main lines of research of your group with us?
Our main research lines focus on the following:

• Emerging non-thermal technologies: HHP, UHPH, PL, PEF, irradiation, and US;
• Fermentation biotechnology;
• Saccharomyces and non-Saccharomyces yeasts;
• Yeast metabolomics;
• Anthocyanins, stability in food and beverages, pyranonanthocyanins, and polimeric pigments.

2. How has your experience been so far as Section Editor-in-Chief in Fermentation for “Fermentation for Food and Beverages”?
My experience as Section Editor-in-Chief has been good. I think that this Section covers a very interesting topic. We are currently working on promotional initiatives to attract more high-quality articles on this particular subject to contribute to the field's growth.

3. You have been collaborating with Fermentation as a Guest Editor, leading multiple succesful Special Issues. Can you tell us more about your experience as Guest Editor over the past few years?
I really enjoy editing Special Issues, which is an excellent opportunity to enhance the collaboration among researchers. I think it is very important to invite key internationally recognized senior researchers to contribute with high-quality publications for a successful Special Issue. Their publications result in increased downloads and citations of their articles. At the same time, I also believe that it is essential to encourage promising young researchers. Since they are doing cutting-edge research, they are capable of attracting interest and increasing the visibility of the journal.

4. How do you envision the future of the Section “Fermentation for Food and Beverages”?
As I mentioned before, I think this is a very promising topic with high impact in the field of food science. I always say to my students that fermentation is the oldest food biotechnology that at the same time is nowadays producing newer products and applications. Fermentation produces more stable products, with better digestive value and positive impacts on long term health. Moreover, frequently fermented food and beverages have a positive sensory profile.

In recognizing the exceptional efforts of our reviewers in 2023, we express our sincere gratitude for upholding the high standards of Fermentation. Their commitment ensured the rigorous peer review that is integral to quality academic publishing.

In 2023, Fermentation received 3188 review reports, from 2139 reviewers. This past year, we worked with reviewers from 75 countries and regions, reflecting the diversity in our collaboration with research communities. Their dedication shapes scholarly discourse and advances global research. The editorial team expresses gratitude for the vital role played by each reviewer in the Fermentation family throughout 2023, and we look forward to their continued support in 2024.

The following are the reviewers who have consented to show their names: