Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
8.7
5.1
Journals
Foods
Special Issues
Emerging Strategies for Sustainable Food Systems via High-Efficiency Valorization of...
share announcement

Emerging Strategies for Sustainable Food Systems via High-Efficiency Valorization of Food Processing Wastes

A special issue of Foods (ISSN 2304-8158). This special issue belongs to the section "Food Security and Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 June 2026 | Viewed by 2386

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Yigal Achmon

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel
2. Department of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, Guangdong Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, GTIIT, 241 Daxue Road, Shantou 515063, China
Interests: food waste valorization; food microbiome; sustainable agriculture
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The global food system faces urgent challenges from rising waste generation, resource depletion and environmental impacts. This Special Issue of Foods highlights innovative strategies to transform food processing residues into valuable products, advancing more sustainable and circular food systems. We welcome research and reviews on high-efficiency valorization approaches, including the biorefinery concept for integrated conversion of by-products into energy, biomaterials and functional ingredients.

Submissions from multidisciplinary fields—food science, biotechnology, engineering, chemistry, environmental sciences, and data-driven methods—are encouraged to address the complexity of waste upcycling. Topics may include process optimization, novel product development and the application of tools such as artificial intelligence to support efficient waste conversion.

By presenting emerging solutions and cross-disciplinary collaborations, this Special Issue aims to promote sustainable practices, reduce environmental burdens and unlock new opportunities for resource recovery.

Dr. Yigal Achmon
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Foods is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • food waste valorization
  • biorefinery
  • upcycling
  • sustainable food systems
  • food security
  • environmental impact
  • circular economy

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

16 pages, 1800 KB  
Article
Synergistic Mechanisms and Product Regulation in the Co-Pyrolysis of Biomass and Food Packaging Waste: A Study Based on Reaction Kinetics and GHG Calculation
by Gang Li, Xingyang Lai, Jue Gong, Tong Zhang, Ke Xu, Zhengyang Feng and Xiaolong Yao
Foods 2026, 15(6), 1098; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15061098 - 20 Mar 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 519
Abstract
To address the mounting environmental burden caused by solid waste from the food supply chain—specifically agricultural residues and plastic packaging—this study systematically investigated the synergistic mechanisms and product regulation pathways in the co-pyrolysis of four representative food processing by-products—rice husk, pine wood, corn [...] Read more.
To address the mounting environmental burden caused by solid waste from the food supply chain—specifically agricultural residues and plastic packaging—this study systematically investigated the synergistic mechanisms and product regulation pathways in the co-pyrolysis of four representative food processing by-products—rice husk, pine wood, corn stover, and chestnut shell—with polypropylene, a common food packaging material. A comprehensive methodology integrating thermogravimetric analysis, kinetic modeling, and product characterization was employed. The results demonstrate that incorporating polypropylene into co-pyrolysis systems, such as those involving waste oil, significantly reduces the average activation energy, indicating a catalytic effect that enhances reaction kinetics. Notably, the co-catalytic interaction between corn stover and PP led to a substantial 54.90% reduction in oxygen content, underscoring PP’s role as an effective hydrogen donor that promotes deoxygenation and free radical reactions, thereby increasing hydrocarbon production. At an optimal pyrolysis temperature of 600 °C, product distribution was effectively regulated: the hydrocarbon yield in the CP (corn stover/PP) system increased from 39.8% to a maximum of 65.6%, reflecting a targeted conversion of oxygenated compounds into high-value hydrocarbons. Furthermore, greenhouse gas (GHG) emission calculation and techno-economic analyses indicate that a natural gas-assisted co-pyrolysis process (Scenario C) can generate a net daily profit of 1835 RMB while reducing annual CO2 emissions by 6515 tons, demonstrating both economic feasibility and environmental benefits. This study provides a theoretical foundation for the circular economy in the food industry, offering a viable technical pathway for the simultaneous treatment of organic food waste and packaging plastics, thereby supporting the sustainable development of the agri-food sector. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Strategies for Sustainable Food Systems via High-Efficiency Valorization of Food Processing Wastes)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

24 pages, 2446 KB  
Article
Upcycling Tomato Harvest and Processing Residues into Polyphenol-Enriched Cellulosic Films with Tunable Antioxidant and UV-Blocking Properties
by Sarmad Ahmad Qamar, Simona Piccolella, Raffaele Raimondo and Severina Pacifico
Foods 2026, 15(6), 1067; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15061067 - 18 Mar 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 452
Abstract
The development of bio-based functional materials through the upcycling of agri-food residues represents a sustainable strategy to reduce environmental impact and promote circular economy. This study achieved valorization by combining two tomato by-products: peels exhausted after supercritical fluid extraction and harvest residues mainly [...] Read more.
The development of bio-based functional materials through the upcycling of agri-food residues represents a sustainable strategy to reduce environmental impact and promote circular economy. This study achieved valorization by combining two tomato by-products: peels exhausted after supercritical fluid extraction and harvest residues mainly composed of stems and field wastes. Polyphenol-rich extract (TPPf) was obtained from peels through ultrasound-assisted maceration and solid-phase extraction, while cellulose from tomato harvest residues (THRs) was converted into carboxymethyl cellulose (THR-CMC, degree of substitution 0.76), as confirmed by structural analyses. Functional bioplastic films were prepared by solvent casting THR-CMC, plasticized with glycerol, and enriched with different TPPf concentrations (0–100 mg/100 mL). Increasing TPPf content enhanced mechanical strength and UV-blocking efficiency, while moderate loading improved moisture barrier properties. The films exhibited notable antioxidant activity (ABTS, DPPH assays) and biodegradability, demonstrating biofunctional performance suitable for food packaging. This integrated valorization strategy highlights the potential of combining agricultural and industrial tomato residues to develop sustainable, biodegradable, and active packaging materials, supporting waste reduction and circular bioeconomy objectives. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Strategies for Sustainable Food Systems via High-Efficiency Valorization of Food Processing Wastes)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

24 pages, 1928 KB  
Article
Valorisation of Clementine, Mandarin, and Orange Peel By-Products as Value-Added Sources of Macronutrients, Fatty Acids, and Multiple Elements
by Marija Penić, Maja Dent, Nataša Krištafor, Maja Ivanić, Željka Fiket and Antonela Ninčević Grassino
Foods 2026, 15(4), 781; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15040781 - 21 Feb 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 934
Abstract
Clementine, mandarin, and orange peels, which are usually discarded, can serve as promising, sustainable dietary supplements with beneficial compositions, as demonstrated in this study. Citrus peels are low in ash, fat, and protein, but high in moisture, fibre, sugar, and polyunsaturated fatty acids [...] Read more.
Clementine, mandarin, and orange peels, which are usually discarded, can serve as promising, sustainable dietary supplements with beneficial compositions, as demonstrated in this study. Citrus peels are low in ash, fat, and protein, but high in moisture, fibre, sugar, and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) (up to 60%). They contain high levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, up to 30% each, making them a good health-promoting source, as shown by the values of nutritional indices as follows: PUFA/saturated fatty acid (SFA) (1.94 to 2.30), monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA)/SFA (0.39 to 0.84), and PUFA/MUFA (2.37 to 5.82). Essential macro elements (K > Ca > Mg > S > P > Na) and trace elements (Fe > Zn > Mn > Cu > Cr > Mo > Co > Se) are unevenly distributed among the peels, along with non-essential elements, with Al (37 to 51 mg/kg) and Sr (17 to 30 mg/kg) predominating. Rare elements in food, such as V and W, are found up to 41 and 79 µg/kg respectively, followed by Nb > Ga > Y > Ge (5 to 11 µg/kg). Although citrus peels have a nutrient-dense composition, their monitoring must be ensured before inclusion in the common diet, particularly regarding non-essential elements, as for most of them the reference doses are not established and they could be harmful to human health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Strategies for Sustainable Food Systems via High-Efficiency Valorization of Food Processing Wastes)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-3
Back to TopTop