Search Results (4,881)

Background/Objectives: The application of green analytical chemistry (GAC) principles is increasingly important in developing sustainable analytical practices for food safety monitoring. Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs) have emerged as green alternatives to conventional organic solvents. This study aimed to develop a sustainable analytical method for determining antibiotic residues in processed meat and frozen poultry products. Methods: A dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) procedure based on a NADES composed of anisaldehyde and decanoic acid (3:1, molar ratio) was coupled with UHPLC–MS/MS for the simultaneous determination of macrolides (clarithromycin, erythromycin), sulfonamides (sulfamethoxazole, sulfadimethoxine), and a fluoroquinolone (enrofloxacin) in food samples. Key extraction parameters, including NADES volume, vortex time, centrifugation time, sample amount, and pH, were optimized. The method was validated for linearity, accuracy, precision, and recovery and applied to real samples from the Saudi market. Results: The method showed excellent analytical performance, with good linearity (R² ≥ 0.9982), recoveries of 84.1–99.4%, and RSDs ≤ 5.75%. The target antibiotics were successfully quantified in processed meat and frozen poultry samples, confirming applicability. In addition, a comprehensive evaluation using eight assessment tools confirmed the method’s environmental sustainability, practicality and innovation. Conclusions: The proposed NADES-based DLLME–UHPLC–MS/MS method is a rapid, sensitive, and eco-friendly alternative to conventional techniques for monitoring antibiotic residues in processed meat and poultry, supporting both food safety and GAC principles. Full article

The adoption of sustainable agricultural practices is essential to cope with climate change and to ensure soil health, efficient nutrient use, and food security. This study aims to delve into the effects of the use of different mulching techniques, both traditional and with an innovative ecological and sustainable mulch called hydromulch, on soil quality parameters, gas-exchange parameters and the final quality of the artichoke fruit (Cynara cardunculus subsp. scolymus L. (Heigi) cv. Symphony), as well as its impact on the metabolomics profile. The experimental design consisted of three blocks, each with three treatments: traditional polyethylene (PE) mulch, a rice husk-based hydromulch, and a bare soil control. The results show an increase in the physical quality of the artichokes grown with both mulches, as well as a direct impact on the primary and secondary metabolism, being more pronounced in the artichokes grown with hydromulch. In particular, hydromulch significantly up-regulated metabolites associated with the melatonin, serotonin, and polyamine pathways, suggesting a marked metabolic response compared with both polyethylene mulch and bare soil treatments. Furthermore, soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil organic matter (SOM) were increased in hydromulched soils. Gas exchange measurements revealed that hydromulched plants reduced stomatal conductance and transpiration, resulting in enhanced intrinsic water use efficiency. These improvements contribute to the production of high-quality, nutritionally enriched crops with direct relevance to food safety and sustainable agri-food systems. Full article

Heavy metal ion pollution has emerged as a global issue. These contaminants are not only present in water sources but are also commonly detected in air, soil, food, and consumer products, posing serious risks to ecosystems and human health. Even at very low concentrations, heavy metal ions can exhibit substantial toxicity. Traditional methods for the detection of heavy metal ions typically require complex laboratory equipment and specialized technicians, making them inadequate for rapid on-site monitoring. Microfluidic technology, as an innovative platform capable of precisely controlling and manipulating minute volumes of fluid, has demonstrated enormous potential in analytical chemistry, biomedicine, and environmental monitoring. In the rapidly developing field of microfluidics, paper-based microfluidic platforms have become prominent due to their low cost, straightforward fabrication, and eco-friendly nature, offering powerful tools for the detection of heavy metal ions in diverse samples. This survey consolidates the major advances reported from 2015 to 2025 in utilizing paper-based microfluidic systems for identifying heavy metal ion pollutants in diverse sample types, including air, explosive residues, water sources, herbal supplements, skin-whitening cosmetics, environmental aerosols, urine, soil, gunshot residues, cucumber plants, and food. The review analyzes in detail the principles and applications of detection strategies based on colorimetric methods, fluorescent methods, electrochemical methods, dual-detection systems, and other methods, as well as the role of nanomaterials and selective recognition elements in improving detection sensitivity and specificity. These portable, low-cost, and easy-to-operate detection systems provide viable solutions for environmental and public health monitoring, particularly suitable for resource-limited regions and scenarios requiring rapid detection. Full article

Food waste is one of the most pressing obstacles to sustainable development. Reducing food waste in schools and kindergartens constitutes an important component of sustainable waste management. To achieve this reduction, various interventions targeting food waste can deliver multiple benefits across environmental, social, and economic dimensions. Among these, behavioral “nudges” aim to steer consumer choices without restricting options. This study evaluated a novel nudging intervention in the canteens of two primary schools and one kindergarten, with the goal of reducing plate waste. The nudging intervention consisted of a simple, interactive installation designed to encourage children to reflect on their food consumption and portion choices. The installation was integrated into routine lunch service and it combined ball-based voting with visual prompts: the emptier the returned plate, the greater the voting weight for the pupil. Across all institutions the food waste level (soup and second dish combined) was significantly decreased during the nudging intervention: by 31% for primary school no. 84, 18% for school no. 1, and 33% for kindergarten no. 56, although part of this reduction was attributable to lower food production volumes. Plate waste for the second dish decreased in all the considered schools: by 10 g/meal (11%), 19 g/meal (22%), and 52 g/meal (51%), respectively. After the intervention a larger share of the second dish served was consumed than was left on the plates compared to the situation during the baseline monitoring. A shift from plate waste to unserved food, which was one of the goals of the study, could not be unambiguously confirmed. Overall, the new nudging installation appears effective. Substantial changes in food production complicate the possibility of determining the effects of the nudging intervention. Future research should maintain constant production levels across the baseline and intervention periods. In addition, pupils should be given maximum freedom to determine their portion sizes during the nudging intervention. The long-term effects of the nudging approach should also be evaluated. Full article

Urban–rural fringes within contaminated regions frequently exhibit severe socio-environmental fragmentation and territorial stigmatization. This study evaluates the implementation of a Successional Agroforestry System (SAFS) in the “Land of Fires” (Southern Italy), which is conceptualized as a multifunctional socio-ecological infrastructure. Adopting a six-year longitudinal case study design (2019–2025), the research utilizes the Gioia methodology to triangulate retrospective field records and systematic monitoring with iterative qualitative narratives. Semi-quantitative and retrospective ecological evaluations indicate that the established multi-layered vertical stratification improved proxy indicators of structural complexity and soil functionality. Estimated soil surface coverage increased from 5.0 ± 1.2% to 85.0 ± 4.3%, while proxy vegetation density rose from 4.8 ± 1.2 to 36.4 ± 4.7 plants/m² (p < 0.001). Beyond these biophysical trends, the intervention catalyzed a “narrative inversion,” transitioning the site from a stigmatized wasteland to a socio-ecological hub that fostered a significant increase in community engagement (from 6.2 ± 1.4 to 34.8 ± 6.5 participants per event). By integrating agroecological practices with the EcoFoodFertility framework, the project highlights the potential of localized interventions to support primary environmental prevention strategies aligned with a One Health paradigm. The findings suggest that this SAFS represents a scalable model for territorial re-signification, offering transferable insights for aligning ecological restoration with social innovation in degraded peri-urban landscapes in accordance with Nature-Based Solutions (NBSs) and European Green Deal objectives. Full article

As the world moves toward a circular bioeconomy, starch nanoparticles (SNPs) have emerged as key components for sustainable development. Traditional production methods have historically relied on harsh acid treatments; however, their substantial environmental footprint has catalyzed a much-needed shift toward “green” chemistry. This review explores the rise of eco-friendly synthesis strategies—including high-power ultrasound, mechanical milling, nanoprecipitation, and enzymatic hydrolysis—and explains how these “clean” methods allow us to precisely define the nanoparticles’ properties. Furthermore, the functional applications of SNPs are analyzed, focusing on their role as reinforcing agents in biodegradable packaging, natural stabilizers in food emulsions, and encapsulation matrices for targeted nutrient delivery. By connecting recent breakthroughs, this work identifies technological synergy, the integration of physical and biological methods, as the most promising route to overcome current yield and scalability limitations. Finally, a future perspective is proposed, focusing on what is needed to move these innovations from the lab to industrial applications, ensuring they are safe, effective, and truly sustainable for the global food sector. Full article

Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) are one of the most important dietary sources of carotenoids, especially lycopene, a bioactive compound associated with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective effects. This review synthesizes recent data on the phytochemical composition of tomatoes, with a focus on lycopene, its main biological mechanisms and health benefits, including the reduction in oxidative stress. The manuscript also highlights the influence of thermal processing and food matrix on the bioavailability of lycopene, as well as the role of innovative formulation and nanoencapsulation systems in increasing its stability and absorption. Modern extraction and analysis methods are also presented, including ultrasound, microwave and supercritical-fluid-assisted techniques, along with HPLC chromatographic methods. A distinctive element is the analysis of lycopene-based food supplements available on the markets in Romania, Europe and the United States, from the perspective of composition, standardization and safety. Current data support the potential of lycopene as a valuable nutraceutical ingredient, but further clinical studies are needed to confirm therapeutic benefits. Full article

Global agriculture faces a dual imperative: increase food production to meet rising demand while simultaneously reducing environmental impacts and resource inefficiencies. Addressing this challenge requires repositioning ruminant nutrition as the intelligent nexus linking crop and livestock production within Integrated Crop–Livestock Systems (ICLS). In this role, nutrition becomes central to restoring ecological, nutritional, and economic synergies that have been fragmented by decades of agricultural specialization. While ICLS provides the ecological foundation, Precision Livestock Farming delivers the technological and analytical infrastructure necessary to operationalize integration at the individual-animal level. Real-time sensing, Internet of Things platforms, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) enable dynamic monitoring of animal physiology, behavior, and environmental interactions across scales. A key advancement in this evolution is the development of Hybrid Intelligent Mechanistic Models (HIMM), which integrate biologically grounded mechanistic models with data-driven AI approaches. By combining interpretability with adaptive learning, HIMM enhances predictive accuracy, extrapolative capacity, and decision transparency, enabling the creation of digital twins that simulate biological responses before management interventions are implemented. Such architectures extend precision nutrition beyond feed efficiency and methane mitigation to include nutrient density and product quality, thereby linking different ecosystem processes directly to human dietary needs. Integrating nutrition with advanced modeling and monitoring tools can help livestock systems move beyond static “net-zero” benchmarks toward sustainable strategies that are responsive to local production contexts. In this reframed paradigm, nutrition is not merely a production input but the central analytical framework that computationally links biological mechanisms, environmental stewardship, technological innovation, and human health within sustainable ruminant systems. Full article

Water scarcity in Peru is increasingly shaped by competing sectoral demands, particularly between large-scale mining and agriculture. Both sectors rely heavily on limited freshwater resources in arid coastal and Andean basins, generating complex trade-offs between economic productivity, environmental sustainability, and social equity. This review synthesizes and critically evaluates current knowledge on water footprint (WF) dynamics within mining–agriculture systems, integrating hydrosocial theory, water–energy–food nexus thinking, and sustainability transition frameworks. Mining activities in Peru are characterized by high blue and grey water footprints, associated with intensive extraction processes and contamination risks, while agriculture exhibits diverse water footprints depending on crop type, irrigation efficiency, and climatic conditions. The interaction of these sectors creates hydrosocial conflicts driven by unequal water allocation, environmental degradation, and institutional fragmentation. This paper identifies key drivers of conflict and evaluates emerging pathways for sustainability transitions, including technological innovation, nature-based solutions, and participatory governance mechanisms. An integrative conceptual framework derived from a thematic synthesis of the reviewed literature is proposed. The findings provide actionable insights for policymakers and researchers seeking to reconcile economic development with water sustainability in resource-constrained environments. Full article

The 4th International Electronic Conference on Processes—Sustainable Process Design, Engineering, Control and Systems Innovation (ECP 2025) was hosted online from 20 to 22 October 2025. The event presented recent process/systems-related research in the fields of chemistry, biology, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, materials, energy, environment, food, and engineering. The main topics and sessions of the conference were as follows: Environmental and Green Processes; Chemical Processes and Systems; Food Process Engineering; Process Control and Monitoring; Materials Manufacturing and Sustainable Packaging; Pharmaceutical Processing and Particle Processes. Full article

For over 70 years, microalgae have been considered promising ingredients for developing sustainable, nutritionally rich foods. Their high protein content, presence of essential amino acids, fatty acids, natural pigments, and a myriad of bioactive compounds position them as potential alternatives to conventional ingredient sources. However, despite their significant potential, the large-scale incorporation of microalgae into food products remains limited. This study presents a critical analysis of the main challenges associated with the use of microalgae in the food industry. Key bottlenecks include high production costs, technological difficulties related to biomass processing, and challenges in extracting desirable compounds. Additionally, the strong flavor, odor, and intense coloration of microalgal biomass can negatively affect sensory acceptance in food products. Other limitations involve scalability issues in cultivation systems, risks of contamination during production, and regulatory constraints related to food safety approval. Consumer perception and limited familiarity with microalgae-based foods also contribute to slower market adoption. Therefore, although microalgae represent a promising and sustainable food resource, overcoming technological, economic, and sensory barriers is essential for their broader integration into the food industry and for achieving successful market consolidation. Full article

Gelatin capsule waste (GCW), a protein-rich by-product, represents a promising substrate for the generation of potential bioactive substances, including free amino acids and other soluble substances generated during enzymatic hydrolysis. In this study, gelatin hydrolysates with degrees of hydrolysis (DH) ranging from 10% to 40% were produced using the commercial enzymes NS AC0106 (endopeptidase) and NS AC0107 (aminopeptidase) to enhance their functional properties. Increasing DH significantly improved antioxidant activity, surface hydrophobicity, and emulsifying capacity (p < 0.05), while sterilization further enhanced antioxidant capacity. Structural analyses confirmed extensive protein degradation and conformational modifications, as evidenced by SDS–PAGE (formation of low-molecular-weight substances), FTIR (shifts in the amide I region), and NMR (release of free amino acids). Electronic tongue analysis indicated that enzymatic hydrolysis enhanced umami and salty taste attributes. Notably, hydrolysis using NS AC0107 at 40% DH resulted in the highest antioxidant activity, together with pronounced umami taste and low bitterness. Overall, GCW-derived hydrolysates show considerable potential as functional ingredients and provide a sustainable strategy for the valorization of protein-rich industrial by-products. Full article

While Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim. (Z. bungeanum) pericarps are a globally prized spice, their leaves are frequently discarded as agricultural waste. This study systematically characterizes the aromatic potential of leaf by-products compared with traditional pericarps under diverse extraction strategies, utilizing an integrated flavoromics and sensomics approach. Qualitative GC-MS-O analysis revealed that leaf-derived fractions possess superior aromatic diversity: leaf essential oil and volatile solvent extract yielded 71 and 68 odorants, respectively, significantly surpassing pericarp counterparts (65 and 43 compounds). Concurrently, HS-GC-IMS profiling confirmed that targeted extraction allows leaf-derived flavors to replicate and exceed traditional spice complexity. Specifically, the leaf solvent extract achieved aromatic parity with pericarps by effectively mirroring the core spicy–citrus profile through cuminaldehyde and limonene retention. Conversely, distilled leaf essential oil unlocked a distinctive herbal–woody sensory innovation, driven by eucalyptol and a broader variety of aldehydes and ketones. Sensomics validation, incorporating aroma recombination, omission experiments, and partial least-squares regression modeling, conclusively identified β-myrcene, limonene, caryophyllene, and humulene as core molecular markers dictating these perceptual shifts. Ultimately, this research provides a robust theoretical foundation for upcycling Z. bungeanum leaves into valuable flavoring resources, facilitating circular bio-economy practices by delivering functional equivalence and entirely novel sensory experiences for the global food industry. Full article

Agri-food by-products (BP) and BP-derived fractions are increasingly recognized as sources of functional and nutritional compounds (e.g., dietary fibers, proteins, waxes, phytosterols, phenolics, carotenoids) that can be upcycled into high-value food ingredients, to improve the sustainability of agri-food chains. This review provides a wide-ranging vision of the potential use of BP and BP-derived fractions in OG formulations, emphasizing the roles they can play (e.g., structuring agents, stabilizers, surfactants, physical scaffolds, fillers, sources of antioxidants), while offering mechanistic insights and science-based perspectives to support the rational design of tailor-made OGs for specific food applications. Particular attention is given to emerging areas including plant-based and hybrid products, and the valorization of insect BP and co-products. Finally, key gaps limiting BP-based OG design and application (e.g., effects on crystallization, interfacial phenomena, dispersion, scaffold/filler behavior, etc.) are identified and translated into a research roadmap and design guidelines for the formulation of tailor-made, scalable BP-based OGs. Full article