Announcements

World Food Day is an annual event held on 16 October. Food should be diverse, nutritional, affordable, and safe. A greater diversity of nutritious foods should be available in our fields, in our markets, and on our tables, for the benefit of all. The following articles, published in Foods (ISSN: 2304-8158) from 2023 onward, showcase the latest advances and insights in this field. We hope that you enjoy reading them.

1. “Heavy Metals in Foods and Beverages: Global Situation, Health Risks and Reduction Methods”
by Elena Cristina Scutarașu and Lucia Carmen Trinc
Foods 2023, 12(18), 3340; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12183340
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/12/18/3340

2. “Global Food Security and Sustainability Issues: The Road to 2030 from Nutrition and Sustainable Healthy Diets to Food Systems Change”
by Theodoros Varzakas and Slim Smaoui
Foods 2024, 13(2), 306; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13020306
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/13/2/306

3. “Designing Nutrition for Health—Incorporating Dietary By-Products into Poultry Feeds to Create Functional Foods with Insights into Health Benefits, Risks, Bioactive Compounds, Food Component Functionality and Safety Regulations”
by Petru Alexandru Vlaicu, Arabela Elena Untea, Iulia Varzaru, Mihaela Saracila and Alexandra Gabriela Oancea
Foods 2023, 12(21), 4001; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12214001
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/12/21/4001

4. “Microplastics, a Global Issue: Human Exposure through Environmental and Dietary Sources”
by Lucrezia Borriello, Marcello Scivicco, Nunzio Antonio Cacciola, Francesco Esposito, Lorella Severino and Teresa Cirillo
Foods 2023, 12(18), 3396; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12183396
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/12/18/3396

5. “Applications of Microalgae in Foods, Pharma and Feeds and Their Use as Fertilizers and Biostimulants: Legislation and Regulatory Aspects for Consideration”
by Min Su, Leen Bastiaens, Joran Verspreet and Maria Hayes
Foods 2023, 12(20), 3878; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12203878
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/12/20/3878

6. “Insects as Valuable Sources of Protein and Peptides: Production, Functional Properties, and Challenges”
by Fatin Fayuni Binti Hasnan, Yiming Feng, Taozhu Sun, Katheryn Parraga, Michael Schwarz and Mohammad Zarei
Foods 2023, 12(23), 4243; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12234243
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/12/23/4243

7. “Microalgae Proteins as Sustainable Ingredients in Novel Foods: Recent Developments and Challenges”
by Ornella Kongi Mosibo, Giovanna Ferrentino and Chibuike C. Udenigwe
Foods 2024, 13(5), 733; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13050733
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/13/5/733

8. “A Further Step toward Sustainable Development: The Case of the Edible Mushroom Supply Chain”
by Rachele De Cianni, Giovanna Cristina Varese and Teresina Mancuso
Foods 2023, 12(18), 3433; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12183433
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/12/18/3433

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 will attend the 23rd International Conference “Life Sciences for Sustainable Development”, which will take place from 26 to 28 Sep 2024 in Cluj, Romania, at The University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca.

This conference is a dynamic forum for the exchange of scientific experiences, innovative ideas and concepts, future prospects in agriculture, plant and animal science, food science and technology, biotechnology, and veterinary medicine, as well as other interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary areas.

The 23rd International Conference “Life Sciences for Sustainable Development” includes invited conferences, presented by known international and national personalities, and oral and poster presentations, where recent advanced scientific and technical results can be seen, especially now, in the context of the new European Research Program “Horizon 2020” and of the national Research, Technological Development and Innovation Program, related to life sciences.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Agriculture;
• J;
• Foods;
• Plants;
• Veterinary Sciences;
• Sustainability;
• Dairy;
• Crops;
• Aquaculture;
• Poultry;
• Ruminants;
• Seeds.

If you plan to attend this conference, we invite you to visit our booth and converse with our delegates at the conference venue (The University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Romania). We are excited to meet you in person and address any questions that you may have. For further details about the conference, please visit the following website: https://symposium.usamvcluj.ro/.

We are thrilled to announce an international conference organized by Plants (ISSN: 2223-7747) to be held in Barcelona, Spain, from 31 March through 2 April 2025. This global event, under Plants 2025: From Seeds to Food Security, is significant, bringing together plant scientists worldwide to discuss and share their latest research and findings. The world population is expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, just 25 years from now. This calls for a more concerted effort by scientists to increase agricultural production to feed the growing population and maintain a sustainable agroecosystem while increasing crop yields and quality. In addition, preserving waterways from contamination due to the excessive use of agrochemicals (herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers) and maintaining and increasing forest cover are essential issues. This conference addresses these topics through keynote talks and seven different sessions for presenting innovation and prospects for the future.

We will have seven main themes at this conference, where presenters can make their scientific discoveries known:

• Session 1: Plant responses to abiotic stress and climate change;
• Session 2: Plant–microbe interactions;
• Session 3: Emerging technologies in plant health;
• Session 4: Emerging technologies in plant breeding;
• Session 5: Emerging technologies in biotechnology and molecular research;
• Session 6: Seed technologies and seed enhancement;
• Session 7: Plant nutrition.

The conference organizers look forward to having experts in the field deliver keynote talks and invite other experts, postdoctoral scientists, graduate students, and anyone interested in plant research and innovation to attend this conference.

The conference will be held in Barcelona, a picturesque city where scientists from around the world can unwind and enjoy Spanish culture, food and the seaside. We, the conference chairs, look forward to welcoming you to Plants 2025.

Prof. Dr. Dilantha Fernando, Editor-in-Chief of Plants
Prof. Dr. Fermin Morales, Section Editor-in-Chief of Plants
Prof. Dr. Oscar Vicente, Section Editor-in-Chief of Plants

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.

The Editorial Office of Foods (ISSN: 2304-8158) extends an invitation to scholars with expertise in foods to apply for membership to our Topical Advisory Panel.

The responsibilities of a Topical Advisory Panel Member include the following:

• Providing regular reviews of manuscripts;
• Setting up at least one Special Issue in partnership with a senior researcher within two years of your appointment and proposing a detailed strategy plan for the Special Issue (including soliciting papers, promoting the Special Issue, etc.);
• Providing support for Special Issues/Topics related to your expertise when Guest Editors are unavailable. This includes Special Issue promotion via social media and advising on some scientific matters;
• Promoting Foods at conferences (adding one–two slides into your presentation, distributing flyers, recommending the journal to your colleagues, etc.), on social media, and other relevant platforms;
• Working with Editorial Board Members or the Editorial Office to promote high-quality/featured papers (for example, writing summaries or highlights for editor-selected papers).

The benefits of being a Topical Advisory Panel Member are as follows:

• A certificate in recognition of your position;
• Additional sponsorships for conferences organized by the Topical Advisory Panel Members of Foods;
• Travel grants for conferences that you attend or organize.

Applicants for this position must fulfill the following criteria:

• Have expertise and experience in a field related to foods;
• Have published at least eight papers in the last five years as a first author or corresponding author;
• Have received a Ph.D. degree;
• Currently hold an independent research position in academia or at a government institute.

Please click on the following link to submit your application: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/foods/topical_advisory_panel_application.

For further inquiries or clarifications, applicants are encouraged to direct their correspondence to the Foods Editorial Office via foods@mdpi.com.

Foods (ISSN: 2304-8158) is recruiting volunteer reviewers. The main responsibility of the reviewers is to regularly provide timely, high-quality reports on submitted manuscripts. The responsibilities of the reviewers are available at https://www.mdpi.com/reviewers.

Peer review is an essential part of the publication process, ensuring that Foods maintains high quality standards for its published papers. We are striving to recognize the efforts of reviewers.

When reviewing for Foods you will experience the following:

• A discount voucher code entitling you to a reduction in the article processing charge (APC) of a future submission to any MDPI journal. Vouchers are linked to your email address and can be applied online at submission or any time before acceptance. Note that vouchers cannot be used after an invoice has been issued. If your article is rejected, the voucher can be reused for your next submission;
• Reviewer voucher codes can be used to pay for Author Services professional English editing;
• A personalized reviewer certificate;
• Consideration for the Outstanding Reviewer Awards; click the following for more information: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/foods/awards;
• Inclusion in the journal’s annual acknowledgment of reviewers if more than 50 reviewers assisted the journal in the previous year;
• Promotion to a Reviewer Board Member (subject to approval by the Editor-in-Chief); click the following for more information: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/foods/submission_reviewers;
• Building a profile on Web of Science Reviewer Recognition Service (formerly Publons) and having their reviewing activity automatically added for participating journals. Publons profiles can also be integrated with ORCID.

To apply, please visit the following link: https://susy.mdpi.com/volunteer/journals/review.

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.

We are pleased to announce that the winner of the Foods 2024 Young Investigator Award is Dr. Matthew D. Moore.

Dr. Matthew D. Moore is an Assistant Professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Massachusetts, USA. His research primarily focuses on food safety microbiology, with a focus on foodborne viruses. Dr. Matthew D. Moore received his Ph.D. in 2016 and has published 61 articles in peer-reviewed international journals. His Scopus Scientific Citation number is 1135, and his Hirsch index is 18. He is a rising star in food science and technology. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Matthew D. Moore on his outstanding achievements.

As the awardee, Dr. Matthew D. Moore will receive the following honorarium:

• CHF 2000;
• An electronic certificate;
• A free voucher for article processing fees valid for one year.

We would like to thank all the nominators from various fields of study and all Award Committee Members for their evaluation of the many excellent nominations.

Prof. Dr. Arun K. Bhunia
Editor-in-Chief of Foods