Waste Reduction and Management in Food Security and Food Sustainability: 2nd Edition
A Special Issue of Foods (ISSN 2304-8158) belonging to the section "Food Security and Sustainability".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 November 2026 | Viewed by 7703
Editors
Interests: new food product development; value addition to food and food waste; functional food; food/feed processing; climate change and food; adulteration in food; indigenous food ingredients and their potential applications in food product development
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: cereal grain quality and nutrition; starch biosynthesis and functional properties; food molecular biology, biochemistry and biotechnology; glycemic index and digestibility; bioactive compounds in cereals; abiotic stress tolerance in response to climate change; food waste valorisation into biopolymers; plant prebiotics and gut health; multi-omics approaches in food systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
This is the second volume of the Special Issue "Waste Reduction and Management in Food Security and Food Sustainability" of the journal Foods, building upon the successful first edition while expanding into critical emerging areas.
Around 700 million people suffer from food poverty, while approximately one-third of all food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted annually. Food loss and wastage occur throughout the entire value chain—from farms to households—due to poor handling, improper transport or storage, extreme weather conditions, cosmetic standards, inadequate infrastructure, and behavioral factors. As global population approaches 10 billion by 2050, researchers worldwide are urgently seeking innovative solutions to prevent food loss and waste, ensuring adequate nutrition for all while reducing environmental pressure and greenhouse gas emissions.
This second edition covers the scope of the previous edition. In addition, it specifically focuses on:
Digital Innovation and Technology Integration
- Artificial intelligence and machine learning applications for demand forecasting and waste prediction;
- Internet of Things (IoT) and blockchain technologies for enhanced traceability and supply chain optimization;
- Computer vision and automated sorting systems for quality assessment;
- Smart sensors and real-time monitoring technologies;
- Digital twins and predictive analytics for food systems.
Climate Resilience and Environmental Impact
- Climate-smart waste reduction strategies;
- Carbon footprint analysis of waste prevention interventions;
- Circular economy approaches to food waste valorization;
- Renewable energy generation from food waste streams;
- Adaptation strategies for extreme weather events and climate variability.
Behavioral Science and Social Innovation
- Consumer behavior modification strategies and interventions;
- Social network influences on food waste practices;
- Cultural and socioeconomic factors affecting food waste patterns;
- Community-based waste reduction initiatives;
- Educational programs and awareness campaigns.
Economic Models and Policy Frameworks
- Cost–benefit analyses of waste reduction technologies;
- Economic incentives and policy instruments;
- Public–private partnership models for waste management;
- Regulatory frameworks for sustainable food systems;
- Financial mechanisms supporting waste reduction initiatives.
Geographic and Sectoral Diversity
Although this special edition has no geographic and sectoral scope, we particularly encourage submissions addressing:
- Developing countries and emerging economies;
- Small island developing states and climate-vulnerable regions;
- Indigenous food systems and traditional preservation methods;
- Urban agriculture and vertical farming waste management;
- Food service, retail, and household waste reduction strategies.
Research Focus Areas
Primary Research Themes:
- Technology-Enabled Solutions: AI/ML applications, blockchain-IoT integration, smart packaging, sensor technologies.
- Sustainable Food Systems: Circular economy models, life cycle assessments, environmental impact analysis.
- Behavioral Interventions: Consumer psychology, social determinants, intervention effectiveness.
- Policy and Governance: Regulatory frameworks, economic instruments, institutional mechanisms.
- Climate Adaptation: Resilience strategies, extreme weather responses, adaptive management.
- Value Chain Optimization: Supply chain efficiency, logistics improvement, storage innovations.
Methodological Approaches Welcomed:
- Quantitative impact assessments with measurable outcomes;
- Economic modeling and cost-effectiveness analysis;
- Life cycle assessment and environmental footprint studies;
- Behavioral experiments and randomized controlled trials;
- Case studies with implementation frameworks;
- Systematic reviews and meta-analyses;
- Mixed-methods research combining quantitative and qualitative approaches.
Dr. Ali Khoddami
Dr. Vito Butardo
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-anonymized 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 system
- food security
- food sustainability
- value adding to food waste
- food loss
- world hunger
- consumer behavior
- artificial intelligence
- blockchain technology
- Internet of Things
- circular economy
- climate resilience
- digital transformation
- supply chain optimization
- behavioral intervention
- policy framework
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