Future Innovation and Challenges in Bioactive Compounds from Plant Foods: Towards Sustainable Health
A special issue of Foods (ISSN 2304-8158). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Foods".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 March 2026 | Viewed by 21
Special Issue Editors
Interests: bioactive compounds; plant-based nutraceuticals; antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity; sustainable bioprocesses; microalgae and cyanobacteria; agro-industrial byproducts; food waste valorization; green nanotechnology; space-enabled food production; in situ resource utilization (ISRU)
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: food chemistry; medicinal plants; natural products; polyphenols; functional foods; health-related claims; bioactive compounds; plant-derived compounds; nutraceuticals; food waste and agro-industrial byproduct valorization; chemical characterization
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Bioactive compounds from plant-based foods are leading a global shift toward more sustainable and health-oriented nutrition as these naturally derived molecules—such as antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agents, and functional phytochemicals—are increasingly recognized for their ability to support health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.
However, unlocking their full potential still presents challenges. These include improving eco-friendly extraction methods; exploring new sources such as agro-industrial byproducts, microalgae, and lab-grown foods; and enhancing bioavailability and functional performance. There is also a growing need to clarify their mechanisms of action through advanced biological models.
Looking to the future means addressing today’s most pressing global challenges—like growing populations, shrinking arable land, nutritional disparities, and the urgent need for sustainable food systems—through bold, science-driven innovation.
This Special Issue offers a platform for research that bridges current needs and future directions in this evolving field. We welcome original articles and reviews exploring the extraction, characterization, and functional evaluation of plant-based bioactive compounds, with a focus on sustainability, circular approaches, and emerging applications. Contributions on innovative food production in controlled environments or extreme contexts are also encouraged.
You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Biomolecules.
Dr. Giacomo Fais
Dr. Giorgia Sarais
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
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
- bioactive compounds
- plant-based foods
- functional phytochemicals
- sustainable nutrition
- nutraceuticals
- eco-friendly extraction
- agro-industrial byproducts
- microalgae and cyanobacteria
- food waste valorization
- innovative food systems
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.
