Postharvest Storage and Preservation Technologies for Agri-Food
A special issue of Foods (ISSN 2304-8158). This special issue belongs to the section "Food Packaging and Preservation".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (5 March 2026) | Viewed by 4997
Special Issue Editors
Interests: food packaging; food preservation; postharvest physiology; fruits and vegetables; nanocarrier
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: food packaging; food 3D printing; food preservation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Postharvest storage and preservation are critical to maintaining the quality, safety, and shelf life of agri-food products, which include fruits, vegetables, cereals, legumes, and processed foods. Despite advancements in agricultural production, significant losses still occur due to improper postharvest handling, microbial spoilage, physiological deterioration, and environmental factors. Innovative preservation technologies are essential to minimizing waste, enhancing food security, and ensuring sustainability across the supply chain.
In recent years, emerging techniques such as smart packaging, controlled atmosphere storage, edible coatings, nanotechnology, cold plasma, bio-preservatives, and AI-driven monitoring systems have demonstrated remarkable potential in extending shelf life while preserving nutritional and sensory qualities. These technologies not only improve food safety but also align with the growing demand for eco-friendly, energy-efficient, and intelligent solutions in agri-food preservation.
This Special Issue, titled "Postharvest Storage and Preservation Technologies for Agri-Food", aims to showcase cutting-edge research on novel methods, materials, and systems for optimizing postharvest management. We welcome original research, reviews, and case studies that address both fundamental and applied aspects of preservation technologies.
Topics of interest may include, but are not limited to, the following.
- Advanced storage technologies: Modified/controlled atmosphere, hypobaric storage, and refrigeration innovations.
- Edible coatings and films: Bio-based materials, active packaging, and nano-enhanced formulations.
- Non-thermal preservation: Cold plasma, UV irradiation, ozone treatment, and pulsed light.
- Biological control: Antimicrobial peptides, bacteriophages, and natural preservatives (e.g., essential oils).
- Smart and intelligent systems: Sensors for real-time freshness monitoring, blockchain traceability, and AI-driven quality prediction.
- Sustainable packaging: Biodegradable/compostable materials, upcycled byproducts, and circular economy approaches.
- Physiological and biochemical mechanisms: Ethylene control, respiration rate management, and senescence delay.
- Postharvest treatments for specific commodities: Tailored solutions for fruits, vegetables, grains, or animal-derived products.
- Life cycle assessment (LCA) and environmental impact: Energy efficiency, carbon footprint reduction, and waste valorization.
- Regulatory and safety considerations: Migration of packaging components, consumer acceptance, and global standards.
We invite researchers, industry experts, and policymakers to contribute original work that advances the science and practice of postharvest preservation. By sharing knowledge on innovative technologies, this Special Issue seeks to bridge gaps between research and real-world applications, ultimately supporting a more resilient and sustainable agri-food system.
Dr. Yiqin Zhang
Prof. Dr. Yaowen Liu
Guest Editors
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
- postharvest preservation
- smart packaging
- food waste reduction
- non-thermal processing
- circular agri-food systems
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