Description

As a consequence of population growth, food production has drastically increased in the past fifty years. To fulfill the current demands for environmental and societal sustainability in food production, strategic changes are required at every level of the agro-food systems. To address this challenge, multi-actor and multi-process approaches have to be applied. Changes in the food production chain can contribute to decreased waste and improved efficiency of resource utilization. The use of bioprocessing in the development of novel, feasible technologies for food/feed exploitation, has great potential in achieving the desired changes in nutritional quality and availability. In addition, the use of underutilized/local crops and recycling of waste are potential strategies to be developed.

This Research Topic is focused on the role of microbial systems and bioprocesses for better exploitation of the agro-food resources, including waste recycling and agricultural by-products, targeting improved nutritional quality of food for human and animals.
Manuscripts of interest will discuss:
• new technologies involving microbial approaches aiming at developing sustainable food systems;
• biotransformation of agricultural waste;
• novel and/or non- conventional substrates to ameliorate food/feed production and nutritional quality;
• impact of processing technologies in the perspective of security and sustainable production.

Finally, a multi-disciplinary approach is also welcome, from technology, nutrition and consumer science to a policy-based and socio-economic point of view. All article types will be considered, including Original Research articles, Reviews and Mini-reviews and Perspective articles focussing on challenges, future needs and how to measure the success of these approaches.