molecules-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

High-Value Utilization of Food By-Products

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Food Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2027

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Food Science and Technology Department, School of Chemistry, Universidad de la República (UdelaR), Av. General Flores 2124, Montevideo 11800, Uruguay
Interests: sensory evaluation; food development; consumer studies; food shelf life; functional foods

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Science and Food Technology, School of Chemistry, Universidad de la República (UdelaR), Montevideo, Uruguay
Interests: green extraction technologies; supercritical processes; natural antioxidants; agro-industrial byproduct valorization; oxidative stability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The transition toward more sustainable food systems is driving global interest in the valorization of agricultural and food by-products as renewable sources of high-value ingredients. Far from being considered waste, these materials represent an untapped reservoir of bioactive compounds such as antioxidants, polyphenols, dietary fibers, proteins, pigments, and other functional molecules with promising applications in food, nutraceutical, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical products.

This Special Issue aims to showcase innovative strategies for transforming food by-products into valuable resources through sustainable and environmentally friendly approaches. Contributions addressing green extraction technologies, process optimization, stabilization of bioactive compounds, functional food development, sensory evaluation, and circular economy concepts are especially encouraged. Studies exploring the incorporation of natural extracts into food matrices and their effects on quality, shelf life, and health-promoting properties are also welcome.

By connecting sustainability, innovation, and food science, this Special Issue seeks to promote new opportunities for reducing food waste while generating added-value products with industrial relevance and positive environmental impact.

Dr. Adriana Gámbaro
Prof. Dr. Ignacio Vieitez
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. Molecules 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 2700 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 by-products
  • circular economy
  • green extraction
  • bioactive compounds
  • functional foods
  • sustainable processing
  • natural antioxidants
  • food waste valorization
  • sensory properties
  • value-added products

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

This special issue is now open for submission.
Back to TopTop