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Technological Innovations for Sustainability in Food Processing and Food Safety

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Food".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2026) | Viewed by 3304

Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Interests: food chemistry; encapsulation; functional foods; sustainability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The world today grapples with a dual challenge: providing sustenance to an ever-growing population and concurrently addressing climate change, resource limitations, and environmental degradation. The intersection of technological breakthroughs in food processing and safety with sustainable methodologies offers a promising avenue for solutions. Techniques that enhance food safety, extend shelf life, reduce waste, and enrich nutritional content—while maintaining environmental consciousness—are pivotal for our future.

In this context, we introduce this Special Issue titled, Technological Innovations for Sustainability in Food Processing and Food Safety. We endeavor to collate and highlight pivotal research on food technology, processing and safety, combined with the principles of sustainability, thereby paving the way for holistic solutions addressing both global food security and environmental protection.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but not limited to) the following:

(1) Sustainable food processing techniques (embracing modern methods like high-pressure processing, pulsed light treatments, cold plasma applications, cavitation, and ultrasound that not only bolster food quality but also prioritize energy efficiency and waste minimization);

(2) Nanotechnology in food processing and safety (delving into the application of nanotechnology, from the development of real-time contaminant-detecting nanosensors and biosensors to the innovative field of nano-encapsulation, evaluating their impacts on food quality, safety, and nutrition);

(3) Edible and biodegradable coatings and films (exploring the burgeoning arena of biodegradable and/or edible packaging solutions, unraveling their composition, advantages, and potential to redefine food packaging and preservation);

(4) Sustainable food safety engineering (highlighting engineering solutions that inherently incorporate sustainability in their design and function, such as breakthroughs in wastewater management, energy-efficient machinery, and other practices that synergize food safety with ecological responsibility);

(5) Circular economy in food Science and technology (addressing the reduction in food wastage and its inherent connection to fortified food security, enhanced sustainability of food systems, and the potential to alleviate economic strains within food safety processes).

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Slaven Jurić
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-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability 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.

Keywords

  • food chemistry
  • food safety
  • food processing
  • novel technologies
  • edible coatings
  • food waste reduction technologies
  • functional foods
  • nanotechnology

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 1297 KB  
Article
Challenges and Threats to Food Security in Modern Agriculture, Based on the Agriculture Sector in EU Countries
by Natalia Górka, Karolina Palimąka and Adam Masłoń
Sustainability 2026, 18(13), 6574; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18136574 - 29 Jun 2026
Viewed by 245
Abstract
The paper analyses the key challenges and threats to contemporary food security, highlighting the interconnections between large-scale agricultural production and environmental degradation. Selected issues are only a part of this complex phenomenon. The main aim is to initiate a discussion and identify the [...] Read more.
The paper analyses the key challenges and threats to contemporary food security, highlighting the interconnections between large-scale agricultural production and environmental degradation. Selected issues are only a part of this complex phenomenon. The main aim is to initiate a discussion and identify the risks and challenges currently facing agriculture in the context of ensuring food security, and to highlight the potential consequences of treating current agricultural land management practices as a chance for food security. The paper discusses, among other things, the relationship between high-production efficiency and system resilience, and the evolution of the policy framework within the Common Agricultural Policy, which reflects the challenges facing the agricultural sector. A key theme concerns the currently dominant model of agriculture. Particular attention is paid to its negative effects, such as high water consumption, the widespread use of monocultures, the loss of biodiversity, and the excessive use of chemicals and antibiotics. The analysis is further complemented by a discussion of challenges related to safeguarding food security. Overall, the paper underlines the necessity of transforming ways of thinking about food security in the long-term perspective (now and for the future generation) in order to protect natural resources and public health, as well as for reorienting agricultural subsidies towards the support of environmentally sustainable practices. Such a perspective on complex phenomena like food security is essential for maintaining it in the context of escalating crises, including climate change and other global and local challenges. Full article
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13 pages, 3034 KB  
Article
Selection of Grape Varieties for Canned Processing Based on Peeling Performance, Sensory Quality, and Storage Stability
by Yabin Feng, Jiancheng Wang, Yihui Chen, Lifeng Pan and Duo Li
Sustainability 2024, 16(23), 10689; https://doi.org/10.3390/su162310689 - 5 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1710
Abstract
The integration of grapes into canned food processing not only effectively extends their shelf life but also preserves their rich nutrition and delightful flavor. This marks a significant advancement toward value-added products and sustainability in the grape industry. This study aims to evaluate [...] Read more.
The integration of grapes into canned food processing not only effectively extends their shelf life but also preserves their rich nutrition and delightful flavor. This marks a significant advancement toward value-added products and sustainability in the grape industry. This study aims to evaluate the appropriateness of different grape varieties for canned grape production, with a focus on peeling characteristics, sensory quality, and storage properties. Our findings reveal that Kyoho, Takatsuma, and Zuijinxiang grapes stand out as promising candidates, characterized by their ease of peeling, minimal peeling loss, and efficient peeling time. Subsequently, a fuzzy mathematical sensory evaluation approach was employed to assess the taste, flavor, texture, appearance, and size of the peeled grapes from nine grape varieties. Notably, Kyoho (3.87), Takatsuma (3.70), and Zuijinxiang (3.57) grapes exhibited superior sensory scores compared with the other varieties. Regarding storage quality, after 180 days of storage, Kyoho grapes exhibited lower color difference by 12.97–23.50%, higher brittleness by 13.77–19.17%, total phenolic content by 15.73–29.29%, total flavonoid content by 28.54–39.31%, anthocyanin content by 23.81–35.66%, and stronger antioxidant capacity (IC50 DPPH: 24.42–69.55%; IC50 ABTS: 13.27–57.43%) compared with Takatsuma and Zuijinxiang grapes. This comprehensive assessment highlights Kyoho grapes as the most suitable variety for canned grape production, followed by Takatsuma and Zuijinxiang grapes. Their exceptional peeling characteristics, sensory qualities, and notable storage resilience position them as promising candidates for commercialization, presenting substantial potential for widespread acceptance among consumers. Full article
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