Processing and Preservation Technology of Agri-Food Products

A special issue of Foods (ISSN 2304-8158). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Foods".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (5 March 2026) | Viewed by 1042

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
College of Engineering, China Agricultural University, 17 Qinghua Donglu, P.O. Box 50, Beijing 100083, China
Interests: agro-products processing; drying; sterilization; radio frequency heating; physical properties

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue, “Processing and Preservation Technology of Agri-Food Products”, aims to showcase cutting-edge research and innovations in the processing, preservation, and value-addition of agri-food products to enhance food safety, quality, shelf life, and sustainability. With growing global demands for nutritious, minimally processed, and eco-friendly foods, this Issue will highlight novel technologies, methodologies, and strategies to address challenges in the agri-food supply chain. 

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. Emerging Processing Technologies:
  • Non-thermal processing (e.g., HPP, PEF, cold plasma, ultrasound);
  • Thermal techniques (e.g., ohmic heating, microwave processing);
  • Fermentation and enzyme-assisted processing.
  1. Innovative Preservation Methods:
  • Advanced drying techniques (e.g., freeze-drying, spray drying);
  • Smart packaging (active/intelligent packaging, edible films);
  • Natural preservatives (plant extracts, bacteriocins, essential oils).
  1. Sustainability and Waste Reduction:
  • By-product valorization and circular economy approaches;
  • Energy-efficient and low-carbon footprint technologies;
  • Minimal processing for reduced food waste.
  1. Quality and Safety Enhancement:
  • Microbiological safety and shelf-life extension;
  • Retention of bioactive compounds and nutritional quality;
  • AI/ML applications in quality control and predictive modeling.
  1. Consumer Trends and Regulatory Aspects:
  • Clean-label technologies and natural additives;
  • Global standards and compliance in food preservation.

Prof. Dr. Yanhong Liu
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • food processing
  • food preservation
  • agro-food products
  • sustainable technologies
  • non-thermal processing
  • thermal processing
  • food safety
  • shelf-life extension
  • novel packaging

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

28 pages, 1392 KB  
Article
Effects of Drying Methods, Temperature, and Initial Moisture Content on Drying Characteristics, Nutritional Quality, Texture, and Oxidative Stability of Peanuts
by Lixuan Wei, Ping Li, Yanhong Liu and Yongkang Xie
Foods 2026, 15(7), 1248; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15071248 - 6 Apr 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 727
Abstract
This study systematically investigated the combined effects of drying method (mid- and short-wave infrared drying, MSID; hot air drying, HAD; radio frequency-hot air combined drying, RF-HAD), drying temperature (35, 45, 55, 60 °C), and initial wet-basis moisture content (20%, 25%, 30%) on drying [...] Read more.
This study systematically investigated the combined effects of drying method (mid- and short-wave infrared drying, MSID; hot air drying, HAD; radio frequency-hot air combined drying, RF-HAD), drying temperature (35, 45, 55, 60 °C), and initial wet-basis moisture content (20%, 25%, 30%) on drying characteristics, nutritional quality, texture, and oxidative stability of peanuts. RF-HAD achieved the shortest drying time, followed by MSID and HAD. Protein content remained stable across all treatments. Fat, oleic acid, and total amino acids were significantly affected by all three factors with significant two-way interactions; linoleic acid exhibited significant method × moisture and three-way interactions. Hardness, adhesiveness, springiness, gumminess, and chewiness showed significant three-way interactions, indicating interdependent effects. All samples met national standards for acid value and peroxide value. MSID yielded the lowest acid value and peroxide value immediately after drying, suggesting better initial oxidative quality. Acid value was primarily influenced by method and temperature, with significant two-way interactions, whereas peroxide value showed significant main effects and a highly significant three-way interaction. No single drying condition optimized all quality attributes. RF-HAD excels in drying efficiency and texture enhancement but requires temperature control to limit oxidation; MSID offers superior initial oxidative stability and amino acid retention. Initial moisture content acts as an active variable that modulates the effects of drying method and temperature. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Processing and Preservation Technology of Agri-Food Products)
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