Recent Trends in the Valorization of Natural Products and Food Wastes
A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Food Science and Technology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 60

Special Issue Editors
Interests: pickering emulsions; microencapsulation; extraction; food chemistry; functional foods; high-value-added products
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: biobased products; natural functional ingredients and applications; nano and microencapsulation; polyurethane chemistry; hybrid and composite materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
This Special Issue of Applied Sciences, entitled “Recent Trends in the Valorization of Natural Products and Food Wastes”, invites the submission of original research and review articles focused on innovative approaches to the sustainable exploitation of natural resources and agro-industrial by-products.
With growing global concerns regarding environmental sustainability, food security, and waste reduction, the valorization of natural products and food wastes has emerged as a key research area. This Special Issue aims to highlight recent advances in the extraction, transformation, and application of bioactive compounds and other high-value ingredients derived from natural matrices and food residues. Contributions that explore novel bioprocesses, green extraction technologies, or the development of value-added products—such as functional foods, nutraceuticals, bioplastics, or natural additives—are particularly welcome.
Emphasis will be given to strategies that contribute to the circular economy and address challenges related to waste minimization, resource efficiency, and industrial scalability. Studies involving interdisciplinary methodologies, biorefinery concepts, or collaborations between academia and industry are also encouraged.
Topics of interest include (but are not limited to) the following: (i) advanced extraction and purification techniques for natural products, (ii) utilization of food wastes as sources of bioactive compounds or biomaterials, (iii) green chemistry and environmentally friendly valorization strategies, (iv) development of functional ingredients and sustainable product formulations, and (v) technological and economic assessments of valorization pathways.
We look forward to receiving your valuable contributions to this Special Issue.
Dr. Andreia Ribeiro
Dr. Filomena Barreiro
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- biovalorization
- extraction
- sustainable development
- bioactive compounds
- green technologies
- microencapsulation
- emulsions
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