Post-Harvest Pest Management in Sustainable Food Processing: From Fundamental Biology to Innovative Solutions for Stored-Product Protection

Reducing post-harvest loss is essential for both food security and sustainable food systems. Stored products pests often cause quantitative and qualitative losses of food during storage. In modern food supply chains, these losses not only reduce resource efficiency but also compromise food safety and processing performance. As the food industry moves toward low-waste, energy-efficient, and clean-label practices, the presence of pest contaminants becomes increasingly unacceptable. However, conventional fumigation and chemical control methods face regulatory restrictions, consumer opposition, and resistance development. A deeper understanding of pest biology—from molecular adaptation to population dynamics—is urgently needed to design effective, non-chemical interventions that can be integrated into sustainable food processing systems.This Research Topic aims to bridge fundamental research on stored-product pest biology with innovative, practical solutions tailored to sustainable food processing environments. The goal is to generate mechanistic insights that inform the development of prevention-based, low-impact pest management strategies compatible with modern processing facilities. We invite contributions that explore the molecular, physiological, and behavioral basis of pest traits relevant to food processing settings—such as heat/cold tolerance, desiccation resistance, insecticide resistance mechanisms, and chemical ecology. Studies using genomics, transcriptomics, or gene editing to identify novel control targets are particularly welcome. On the applied side, we encourage submissions on biological control using entomopathogenic fungi, physical control methods (temperature manipulation, controlled atmospheres, mechanical removal), advanced grain drying technologies that reduce pest susceptibility, and storage engineering for climate-resilient, low-energy facilities. A key emphasis is placed on translational research that connects fundamental discoveries to measurable outcomes—for example, using resistance gene surveillance to guide rotation strategies, or optimizing drying protocols based on pest physiological thresholds. By fostering this synergy, the collection will provide evidence-based guidelines for integrating pest management into sustainable food processing chains, reducing food loss and enhancing safety.This Research Topic welcomes Original Research, Review, Methods, Data Descriptor and Perspective articles on the biology, ecology, monitoring, and management of stored pests in urban and peri-urban food systems. Relevant themes including, but not limited to:Molecular biology and genetics of stored products pests; Symbiotic microbiota associated with stored products pests: community characterization, functional roles in host adaptation and interactions with control interventions;Mechanisms and monitoring of insecticide resistance in stored products pests;Sustainable control innovations: natural products, biological control agents and physical methods;Reduced-dose and combined fumigation for stored products pests;Computational chemistry and molecular modeling for stored products pest management;Integrated pest management (IPM) frameworks adapted to urban food systems;Translational research linking fundamental insights to field and applied solutions;Physiological and behavioral ecology in food processing facilities Topic editors: Dingrong XUE, Erhu Chen, Zhou Yifei Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/79615/post-harvest-pest-management-in-sustainable-food-processing-from-fundamental-biology-to-innovative-solutions-for-stored-product-protection