Sustainable Biotechnological Approaches and Functional Materials in Food Processing and Preservation

Postharvest losses remain a major global challenge affecting food security, economic sustainability, and environmental performance across agri-food systems. Significant losses in fruits, vegetables, and other perishable commodities occur during storage, handling, distribution, and processing due to physiological deterioration, microbial contamination, and inefficient preservation practices. At the same time, increasing consumer demand for safe, minimally processed, high-quality foods with reduced environmental impact has accelerated the search for innovative and sustainable postharvest solutions. Emerging technologies such as Cold Plasma cold plasma, edible coatings, ultraviolet treatments, pulsed light, ozone, modified atmosphere systems, and other non-thermal approaches are gaining attention for their ability to extend shelf life, preserve quality, improve safety, and reduce food waste. These advances are transforming postharvest preservation and processing toward more sustainable and efficient food production systems.The goal of this Research Topic is to address the urgent need for innovative and sustainable strategies to improve postharvest preservation and processing while reducing food losses and maintaining product quality and safety throughout the supply chain. Despite important advances in postharvest management, conventional preservation methods often rely on energy-intensive operations or chemical treatments that may raise environmental and consumer concerns. In addition, significant challenges remain in extending shelf life without compromising nutritional, physicochemical, and sensory attributes of fresh and minimally processed products.Recent advances in emerging technologies—including Cold Plasma cold plasma, edible coatings, non-thermal decontamination systems, smart packaging, ultraviolet applications, ozone treatments, and sustainable processing approaches—offer promising alternatives to conventional methods. This Research Topic aims to bring together original research and critical reviews exploring the development, optimization, and industrial application of these technologies. Particular emphasis will be placed on their effectiveness, scalability, sustainability, and potential contribution to improving food quality, safety, shelf-life extension, and reduction of postharvest waste in agri-food systems.This Research Topic welcomes contributions focused on emerging sustainable technologies for postharvest preservation and processing of fruits, vegetables, and plant-based food products. The scope includes innovative approaches aimed at extending shelf life, maintaining quality, enhancing safety, reducing postharvest losses, and improving sustainability across the food value chain. Topics of interest include Cold Plasma cold plasma applications, non-thermal preservation technologies, edible coatings, biodegradable and smart packaging, ozone and ultraviolet treatments, minimally processed foods, postharvest quality management, food waste reduction, sustainable drying and processing technologies, and valorization of postharvest by-products. Contributions addressing process optimization, mechanism of action, scale-up, industrial implementation, and sustainability assessment are particularly encouraged. We welcome Original Research, Review Articles, Mini Reviews, Methods, and Perspective manuscripts that provide scientific and technological advances in this rapidly evolving field. Topic editors: Yadira Karina Reyes-Acosta, Lluvia De Abril Alexandra Soriano-Melgar, Deepak Kumar Verma, Rosa Idalia Narro-Céspedes, Sergio Mancillas-Salas Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/81595/sustainable-biotechnological-approaches-and-functional-materials-in-food-processing-and-preservation