Advances in Sustainable Food Process Engineering

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce the forthcoming Special Issue of Foods, focusing on "Advances in Sustainable Food Process Engineering”. As we embark on this endeavor, it is crucial to underscore the significance of this research area and its implications for advancing sustainable practices in the food–energy–water nexus.
The field of sustainable food process engineering has gained paramount importance in recent years due to the pressing need for environmentally friendly and resource-efficient approaches in food processing. The increasing global population, coupled with concerns about climate change and resource scarcity, has prompted the scientific community to explore innovative solutions for more sustainable food processing methods. As we delve into this research area, it becomes evident that the integration of engineering principles into food processing plays a pivotal role in minimizing environmental impact, optimizing energy usage and reducing waste.
The primary aim of this Special Issue is to bring together cutting-edge research that addresses the challenges and explores the progress in sustainable food process engineering. We seek to provide a platform for researchers and experts to share their findings, methodologies and insights, fostering a collaborative environment that encourages the development of sustainable solutions. The subject matter aligns seamlessly with the scope of Foods, which has a longstanding commitment to publishing high-quality research in the field of natural and applied sciences and engineering. By focusing on sustainable food process engineering, we aim to contribute to the broader goal of achieving a more sustainable and resilient food production system.

In this Special Issue, we encourage researchers to submit their original research articles, reviews and case studies that contribute to the advancement of sustainable food process engineering. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following: 

1. Innovative Processing Technologies: Exploration of novel engineering techniques that enhance efficiency while minimizing environmental impact in food processing.
2. Energy Optimization in Food Production: Research on strategies to reduce energy consumption and increase energy efficiency in various stages of food processing.
3. Waste Reduction and Circular Economy: Studies addressing methods to minimize waste generation, promote recycling and develop circular economy models within the food industry.
4. Integration of Digital Technologies: Exploring the role of computer-aided food process engineering, leveraging digitalization, digital twins and smart technologies for sustainable food processing.
5. Water Management in Food Processing: Examination of sustainable water usage and wastewater treatment practices in the food industry.
6. Life Cycle Assessment of Food Processing: Comprehensive assessments of the environmental impact of food processing methods, considering the entire life cycle of products.

Through this Special Issue, we aspire to generate a comprehensive body of knowledge that will inform and inspire future innovations in the pursuit of a more sustainable and resilient food production ecosystem.

We look forward to receiving your valuable contributions and to the collaborative success of this special issue.

Prof. Dr. Michael Ngadi
Dr. Shubham Subrot Panigrahi
Dr. Ebenezer Miezah Kwofie
Guest Editors

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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Foods 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 2900 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.

• food process optimization
• energy-efficient processing
• advanced thermal processing
• non-thermal processing technologies
• process simulation
• circular bioeconomy models
• waste minimization strategies
• water footprint assessment in the food industry
• advanced process control
• computer-aided modeling and technologies in food processing
• life cycle analysis