Phenolic Compounds in Food Science, Technology, and Circular Bioeconomy

Dear Colleagues,

Phenolic compounds are among the most diverse and bioactive plant-derived molecules, shaping food quality, safety, and health outcomes. This Special Issue invites original research, reviews, and short communications that advance bioactivity-guided characterization, extraction, stabilization, and functionalization of phenolics for food applications, with a strong emphasis on sustainability and circular bioeconomy. We welcome studies valorizing agro-industrial side-streams and food losses as sources of phenolics; green and efficient processing routes; and integrative approaches that link chemical profiles and biological effects to functional performance in real or model food systems. Submissions addressing interactions in complex matrices, sensory and nutritional impacts, bioaccessibility/bioavailability, and translational applications in plant-based foods and active/intelligent packaging are encouraged. Contributions that include sustainability metrics, traceability, and scalability are valued.

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

• Bioactivity-guided profiling, isolation, and effect-directed analysis of phenolics.
• Valorization of agro-food by-products and side-streams; biorefinery concepts.
• Green extraction, stabilization, and functionalization strategies.
• Structure–function relationships; interactions in complex food matrices.
• Phenolics in plant-based product design; preservation; sensory impact.
• Bioaccessibility, bioavailability, and delivery systems (encapsulation, release).
• Active/intelligent packaging and edible films leveraging phenolic functions.
• Chemometrics, high-throughput screening, and QC workflows.

Sustainability and circularity assessments, traceability, and scale-up.

Dr. Ignacio Cabezudo
Guest Editor

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. Processes 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 2400 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.