Announcements

4 March 2026
MDPI’s 2025 Best Paper Awards—Award-Winning Papers Announced


MDPI is honored to announce the recipients of the 2025 Best Paper Awards, celebrating exceptional research for its scientific merit and broad impact. After a rigorous evaluation process conducted by Academic Editors, this year’s awards showcase papers that stand out for their innovation, relevance, and high-quality presentation.

Out of a highly competitive pool, 396 winning papers have been recognized for their exceptional contributions. We congratulate these authors for pushing the boundaries of their respective disciplines.

At MDPI, we are dedicated to broadening the reach of innovative science. To learn more about the award-winning papers and explore research projects in your field of study, please visit the following links:

About MDPI Awards:

To reward the global research community and enhance academic dialogue, MDPI journals regularly host award programs across diverse scientific disciplines. These awards, serving as a source of inspiration and recognition, help raise the influence of talented individuals who have been credited with outstanding achievements and whose work drives the advancement of their fields.

Explore the Best Paper Awards open for participation, please click here.

 

2 April 2026
2026 Tu Youyou Award—Open for Nominations


We are delighted to announce that nominations are now open for the 2026 Tu Youyou Award. Named after Nobel Laureate Tu Youyou, whose discovery of artemisinin has saved millions of lives, this award recognizes researchers whose work advances the fields of natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry, while also contributing to human health.

Prize

– CHF 100,000;
– A medal;
– A certificate.

The monetary prize will be shared equally should there be multiple recipients.

Who May Be Nominated?

– Scientists with outstanding achievements and contributions in the fields of natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry.

Nominees must be individuals; team or group nominations are not permitted. Nominations are valid only for the current award cycle.

Who May Submit a Nomination?

– The director of the nominee’s host research institution or recognized scientists within the field.

Self-nominations will not be considered.

Nomination Materials

– A biographical sketch;
– A detailed description of the nominee’s contributions;
– 5–10 representative academic publications;
– A list of academic honors, awards, and funded projects;
– A nomination letter signed by two nominators.

How to Submit?

Submit nominations online via the following link: https://tuyouyouprize.org/nomination

Important Dates

– Nomination Deadline: 31 October 2026
– Winner Announcement: March 2027

For further information, please visit the Tu Youyou Award website (https://tuyouyouprize.org/). For any inquiries, please contact the Tu Youyou Award Team at tuyouyouaward@mdpi.com.

31 March 2026
MDPI INSIGHTS: The CEO’s Letter #33 - 2025 Annual Report, Preprints.org, IWD, Recapping Viruses 2026 & Romania Salon

Welcome to the MDPI Insights: The CEO's Letter.

In these monthly letters, I will showcase two key aspects of our work at MDPI: our commitment to empowering researchers and our determination to facilitating open scientific exchange.


Opening Thoughts

Scaling Open Access with Integrity: MDPI Annual Report 2025

I am pleased to share the release of MDPI’s 2025 Annual Report, reflecting our continued progress as one of the world’s leading open access publishers. The report highlights not only our growth, but also the continued evolution of our publishing model and our commitment to quality, transparency, and collaboration.

You can explore the full report here: https://mdpi-res.com/data/mdpi_annual_report_2025_0401.pdf?1775045421

Or visit the interactive page: https://www.mdpi.com/annual-report-2025/

A Year of Growth and Responsibility

2025 was a year of significant growth for MDPI. We received over 669,000 manuscript submissions, the highest in our history, while maintaining a rejection rate above 60%, reinforcing our commitment to both scale and quality.

We published 261,576 peer-reviewed open access articles across a portfolio of 500 journals, supported by a global community of more than 68,000 Editorial Board Members and 209,000 reviewers.

Scaling with Integrity

Growth alone is not the objective; how we grow matters.

Our 2025 Annual Report, Scaling Open Access with Integrity, reflects our continued focus on building the systems and processes that support reliable and trustworthy publishing. As submission volumes increase globally, so too does the importance of robust editorial workflows, research integrity frameworks, and the infrastructure required to support them.

In 2025, we continued to invest in:

  • Research integrity and quality assurance processes
  • Editorial support and reviewer engagement
  • Transparency across the publishing workflow

These efforts ensure that scale does not come at the expense of rigor, but rather reinforces it.

Validation Through Indexing and Visibility

As MDPI continues to grow, validation of quality remains essential.

In 2025, the number of MDPI journals indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection increased from 298 to 329, while Scopus coverage reached 355 journals, including 45 new acceptances. Coverage in major biomedical databases (PMC/Medline/PubMed) expanded to 95 journals, and indexing in Ei Compendex increased significantly.

These milestones reflect the strength of our editorial processes and the trust placed in our journals by independent indexing bodies.

Importantly:

  • 96% of all MDPI articles are indexed in Web of Science databases
  • More than 1.75 million articles are indexed, with an average of 13 citations per article

Recognition through Journal Citation Reports also continues to grow:

  • 298 journals received Impact Factors
  • 65% ranked in the top half of their categories
  • 61 journals achieved top-quartile positions

These developments demonstrate that growth and quality are advancing together, supported by strong editorial oversight and consistent performance across our journal portfolio.

Strengthening Partnerships and Community

Open access is a collaborative endeavor.

In 2025, we expanded our institutional partnerships to more than 1,000 IOAP agreements, helping simplify publishing for researchers and institutions worldwide.

We also hosted 60 in-person conferences and virtual events, bringing together more than 28,000 participants to exchange ideas, share research, and strengthen connections across the global scientific community.

At the heart of everything we do is this community of authors, editors, reviewers, and partners who make open science possible.

Looking Ahead

Open access continues to move toward becoming the standard model for sharing research globally. With that growth comes increased responsibility.

Our focus moving forward is to continue building a publishing ecosystem that is:

  • Collaborative, to serve the research community
  • Rigorous, to ensure quality
  • Transparent, to support trust
  • Scalable, to meet global demand

We believe that open access, when combined with strong editorial standards and integrity, is the most effective way to accelerate scientific progress.

Thank you to all the scholarly community who collaborated with us and our MDPI staff for your continued dedication and contributions in making 2025 a successful year.

Impactful Research

Celebrating Ten Years of Preprints.org: Accelerating Open Research

In 2026, MDPI’s preprints server Preprints.org marked its 10th anniversary as a platform dedicated to accelerating the dissemination of research. Since its launch, Preprints.org has grown into a global platform that hosts more than 120,000 preprints contributed by hundreds of thousands of researchers worldwide, generating tens of millions of views and downloads and demonstrating the value of sharing research openly and rapidly.

At MDPI, we are proud to celebrate ten years of Preprints.org supporting the mission of open science. Over the past decade, we have seen how early sharing of research can accelerate collaboration and help ideas move more quickly from discovery to impact.

The Evolution of Preprints

While Preprints.org launched in 2016, the idea behind it has deeper roots. The concept of rapid research dissemination has existed for decades, with early preprint servers showing how open sharing can accelerate scientific progress.

Over the past decade, preprints have become an increasingly important part of scholarly communication. Researchers across disciplines are looking at faster ways to share their discoveries, exchange ideas, and receive feedback from the global scientific community.

Preprints in a Growing Research Ecosystem

The global preprint landscape has expanded significantly over the past decade, with multiple platforms serving different research communities. The figure below (sourced from James Butcher newsletter), based on data from Dimensions (Digital Science), shows the growth of preprint outputs across several major platforms over time.

Among these platforms, arXiv (the pioneering preprint server) has experienced great growth in recent years. At the same time, other platforms have continued to expand their reach across disciplines, capturing increasing global interest in early research sharing.

Preprints.org contributes to this evolving ecosystem by providing a multidisciplinary platform that works in synergy with academic journals, helping researchers bridge the gap between rapid dissemination and the formal publication process.

Celebrating the First Decade

To commemorate this milestone, Preprints.org launched a 10th Anniversary celebration hub highlighting the impact of preprints and the researchers who contribute to them.

One of the central initiatives is the Popular Preprints of the Decade Award, recognizing influential preprints published between 2016 and 2026 across multiple research fields. Through community voting, the award will recognize research that has generated high engagement and visibility within the global research community.

Looking Ahead: The Next Decade of Preprints

As research communication continues to evolve, preprints will continue to play an important role in enabling faster collaboration, improving transparency, and expanding access to knowledge. The next decade may bring further integration between preprint platforms and journals, new tools for discovery and evaluation, and greater global participation in open science.

At MDPI, we remain committed to supporting researchers through platforms that encourage the open exchange of ideas. The success of Preprints.org over the past ten years reflects the engagement and trust of the global research community – authors, readers, reviewers, and collaborators who believe in the value of sharing knowledge openly.

Congratulations to everyone involved in the development and growth of Preprints.org over the past decade!

Inside MDPI

Beyond International Women’s Day: Supporting Women in Research

International Women’s Day (IWD) offers an opportunity to recognize the achievements of women around the world and reflect on how we can continue building a more inclusive future. In research and academia, this conversation carries particular importance, as scientific progress depends on diverse perspectives, and supporting women in science is essential to strengthening the global research ecosystem.

For MDPI, IWD is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women in research and highlight the initiatives, conversations, and collaborations that help support researchers across disciplines and career stages.

Highlighting Women in Science Across MDPI

This year, MDPI marked International Women’s Day with a global campaign highlighting research, awards, and perspectives that support women in science. Throughout the week, our teams shared content across MDPI’s social media channels sharing the work of women researchers and encouraging engagement across the academic community.

As part of this initiative, MDPI published several blog articles exploring important themes related to gender equity in research. One article, Give Support, Gain Progress: Retaining Women in Science, discusses the importance of mentorship, institutional support, and inclusive research environments in helping women build sustainable scientific careers.

Another featured article, Bridging the Gap in Women’s Health Research, highlights the ongoing need to address disparities in health research and ensure that women’s health receives the scientific attention and investment it deserves.

These topics capture the notion that supporting women in science benefits not only individual researchers but the entire scientific community. When researchers from diverse backgrounds can contribute their perspectives and ideas, the scope and impact of scientific discovery expand.

Creating Spaces for Dialogue

Beyond online content, MDPI is also supporting conversations about women in research through community engagement.

On 10 March, MDPI UK hosted the “Women in Research” event, bringing together researchers and professionals to share experiences and discuss the opportunities and challenges women face throughout their scientific careers. Events like these are an opportunity for open dialogue, mentorship, and networking to create more inclusive research communities.

Looking Beyond a Single Day

While IWD is an important moment of recognition, progress requires ongoing effort.

Supporting women in research involves many forms of engagement: from mentorship and collaboration to creating inclusive environments in which diverse voices are heard and valued. Publishers, institutions, and researchers all play a role in building this ecosystem.

At MDPI, we remain committed to supporting the global research community and to promoting open access publishing as a foundation for accessible and inclusive knowledge-sharing.

As we reflect on IWD this year, we recognize the many women who contribute to research as authors, reviewers, editors, mentors, and educators; we also recognize the impact they continue to have on the advancement of science. The influence of women in research extends far beyond a single day of recognition, reminding us that supporting them is a commitment that continues throughout the year.

Coming Together for Science

Highlights from Viruses 2026 – New Horizons in Virology (11–13 March)

Through 11–13 March, we successfully delivered the Viruses 2026 – New Horizons in Virology MDPI conference in Barcelona, bringing together an international community of researchers, editors, and partners dedicated to advancing the field of virology.

Conference Highlights

Viruses 2026 in numbers:

  • 198 total registrations, with 171 attendees on site
  • 233 submissions, with 122 accepted
  • 42 short talks, 9 flash talks, and 80 posters
  • 13 invited speakers and 1 keynote speaker

The strong level of participation and quality of submissions once again demonstrate the relevance of the Viruses community.

A standout moment was the keynote lecture by Dr. Ho, which also attracted an NBC documentary film crew, highlighting the broader impact of the research being presented.

Scientific Programme

The conference programme covered areas across modern virology, including viral replication, pathogenesis, immunology, and public health. Sessions explored topics on antiviral therapeutics and vaccines, innate immunity, virus–host interactions, and the structure and mechanisms of virus replication.

Together, these discussions highlighted both the fundamental biology of viruses and the translational challenges of addressing emerging infectious diseases, reflecting the breadth and continued importance of virology research in a global context. The programme also included a sponsored workshop on research data management in virology, further emphasizing the importance of data practices in advancing the field.

Thank You

Feedback from participants has been very positive, and I would like to thank the Conference team for the organization and delivery of this year’s event.

Thank you to our Viruses journal team and all colleagues involved behind the scenes in supporting the delivery of the event. As noted by Dr. Eric Freed (EiC of Viruses), the success of this edition gives us strong momentum as we look ahead to the next conference in 2028, with opportunities to further expand participation and engagement.

Closing Thoughts

Recap from MDPI Romania Salon in Cluj-Napoca (24 March)

On 24 March, we had the opportunity to meet with members of the Romanian research community in Cluj-Napoca at our MDPI Romania Salon. The event was a space for presentations, open discussion, and the exchange of perspectives on publishing and the research landscape in Romania.

We welcomed 39 participants, including 27 researchers from institutions across Romania, representing cities such as Cluj-Napoca, Timișoara, and Reșița. Among them were Editorial Board Members, Associate Editors, and Guest Editors, all of whom play an important role in collaborating with MDPI and shaping the quality and direction of academic publishing.

A Shared Commitment to Research Excellence

These events reflect MDPI’s commitment to connecting with and supporting researchers by means of transparency, dialogue, and collaboration. During the day, MDPI colleagues shared a series of presentations covering different parts of our publishing ecosystem:

  • MDPI’s presence in Romania – Anamaria Vartolomei (Journal Relationship Specialist (JRS), Section Managing Editor (ME))
  • MDPI’s performance, growth, and impact in Romania – Stefan Tochev (CEO)
  • Academic services, initiatives, and projects supporting researchers – Ioana Preda (JRS, Section ME)
  • Best practices and standards in publication ethics – Lavinia Rogojina (Research Integrity Manager)
  • Panel session on ethics, AI, and peer review – Lavinia Rogojina, Ioana Preda, Doris Larisa Albu (JRS, Section ME), Cristina Georgiana Spelmezan (JRS, Section ME)
  • Closing remarks – Lavinia Dumitrela Cozma (Operations Manager, Section ME)

Feedback from participants was very positive, particularly regarding the quality of discussions, the relevance of the topics, and the opportunity to engage directly with MDPI colleagues. What stood out most was the openness of the discussion. These events are important not only for the purposes of presenting what we do, but also as an opportunity to listen, understand concerns, and continue to build alignment with the research community.

Romania and the Growth of Open Access Publishing

The Romanian research landscape continues to show growth in open access (OA) publishing.

In 2025:

  • 72% of all publications in Romania were published as OA
  • Of these, 74% were Gold Open Access

Over the past five years, Romania has produced more than 109,000 publications, with approximately 71% available openly, highlighting a sustained shift toward accessibility and knowledge-sharing.

Within this landscape, MDPI continues to play a significant role:

  • MDPI is the leading OA publisher in Romania, contributing 42% of all OA publications in 2025
  • More than 37,000 articles have been published with MDPI by Romanian institutions since 1996
  • This figure includes over 7,500 publications in 2025 alone
  • More than 400 Editorial Board Members from Romania collaborate with MDPI across disciplines

These trends show the growth of OA and the strength of collaboration between MDPI and the Romanian research community.

Looking Ahead

As academic publishing continues to evolve, maintaining open and transparent communication with researchers is essential. Events such as our Salons and Summits provide great opportunities to exchange perspectives and to build trust and collaboration.

Thank you to all participants who joined us in Cluj, and to our teams in Romania for delivering a successful event. A special thank-you to Alina-Florina Agafitei (Marketing Specialist) for her care and attention to detail in delivering the Salon.

Stefan Tochev
Chief Executive Officer
MDPI AG

31 March 2026
Beverages | Highly Viewed Papers Published in 2025

As all of the articles published in Beverages (ISSN: 2306-5710) are open access, you have free and unlimited access to the full text of all of our articles. We invite you to read our highly viewed papers in Beverages, which are listed below:

1. “Caffeinated Beverages—Unveiling Their Impact on Human Health”
by Beáta Čižmárová, Vladimír Kraus, Jr. and Anna Birková
Beverages 2025, 11(1), 18; https://doi.org/10.3390/beverages11010018
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5710/11/1/18

2. “Composition, Properties, and Beneficial Effects of Functional Beverages on Human Health”
by Andreas Panou and Ioannis Konstantinos Karabagias
Beverages 2025, 11(2), 40; https://doi.org/10.3390/beverages11020040
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5710/11/2/40

3. “Barista-Quality Plant-Based Milk for Coffee: A Comprehensive Review of Sensory and Physicochemical Characteristics”
by Akansha Gupta, Russell Keast, Djin Gie Liem, Snehal R. Jadhav, Dipendra Kumar Mahato and Shirani Gamlath  
Beverages 2025, 11(1), 24; https://doi.org/10.3390/beverages11010024
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5710/11/1/24

4. “Total Water Intake and Total Fluid Intake Worldwide: A Systematic Literature Review in Children and Adolescents”
by Georgios Papaoikonomou, Kyriaki Apergi and Olga Malisova
Beverages 2025, 11(2), 46; https://doi.org/10.3390/beverages11020046
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5710/11/2/46

5. “The Impact of Brewing Methods on the Quality of a Cup of Coffee”
by Alessandro Genovese, Nicola Caporaso and Antonietta Baiano
Beverages 2025, 11(5), 125; https://doi.org/10.3390/beverages11050125
Full text available online:  https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5710/11/5/125

6. “The Gut–Brain Axis and Probiotics in Beverages and Liquid Preparations: A PRISMA Systematic Review on Cognitive Function Enhancement”
by Alfonso Filippone, Umberto Barbieri, Maria Rosaria Corbo, Milena Sinigaglia and Antonio Bevilacqua
Beverages 2025, 11(3), 85; https://doi.org/10.3390/beverages11030085
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5710/11/3/85

7. “Green Tea: Antioxidant vs. Pro-Oxidant Activity”
by Stanila Stoeva, Nadezhda Hvarchanova, Kaloyan D. Georgiev and Maya Radeva-Ilieva
Beverages 2025, 11(3), 64; https://doi.org/10.3390/beverages11030064
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5710/11/3/64

8. “Performance of Mushrooms in Fermented Beverages: A Narrative Review”
by Tiziana Di Renzo, Anna Reale, Stefania Nazzaro, Pasquale Marena, Muhamad Hafiz Abd Rahim, Nurul Aqilah Mohd Zaini, Nur ‘Aliah Daud and Wan Abd Al Qadr Imad Wan-Mohtar
Beverages 2025, 11(1), 19; https://doi.org/10.3390/beverages11010019
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5710/11/1/19

9. “Quantification of Caffeine in Energy and Cola Drinks via Rapid High Performance Liquid Chromatography Assays with Ultra Violet Diode Array Detection”
by Christopher E. Karlsen, Jake A. Cravino, Arianne Soliven, Peter J. Mahon, Feng Li and R. Andrew Shalliker
Beverages 2025, 11(2), 39; https://doi.org/10.3390/beverages11020039
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5710/11/2/39

10. “Commercial Plant-Based Functional Beverages: A Comparative Study of Nutritional Composition and Bioactive Compounds”
by Luciana De La Fuente-Carmelino, Mayra Anticona, Fernando Ramos-Escudero, Sandra Casimiro-Gonzales and Ana María Muñoz
Beverages 2025, 11(1), 26; https://doi.org/10.3390/beverages11010026
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5710/11/1/26

25 March 2026
Acknowledging the Contributions of Our Reviewers in 2025


As a pioneer in open access publishing, MDPI maintains rigorous publication standards. This mission relies on the dedication and expertise of our reviewers, who invest their time and knowledge to ensure the quality and integrity of the research we publish.

In 2025, over 209,000 reviewers contributed to the peer-review process at MDPI, providing more than 1.3 million review reports for our journals. To express our gratitude, MDPI’s Reviewer Recognition Program highlights reviewers across over 400 journals, featuring those who have assessed at least one manuscript and agreed to be acknowledged.

In addition, MDPI has identified its Top 1000 Reviewers of 2024 to recognize those whose expertise, dedication, and thoughtful evaluations were particularly outstanding.

Many journals have also established Outstanding Reviewer Awards to honor our reviewers’ commitment to publication excellence. Together with the Exceptional Reviewer List, we showcase the importance of reviewers’ work and their time and dedication.

These initiatives serve to express our deepest appreciation and gratitude towards the whole reviewer community. In recognition of their contributions, we also welcome new researchers to join this community. If you would like to contribute to open access publishing, learn more about the reviewers’ benefits and sign up to join us.

6 March 2026
Beverages Webinar | Probiotic and Functional Beverages: Potential Implications for Health, 20 March 2026


Message from the Chairs:

Are you interested in how probiotic and functional beverages can contribute to human health? If so, join us for the upcoming webinar, “Probiotic and Functional Beverages: Potential Implications for Health”. This event is intended for food scientists, nutritionists, researchers, product developers, and industry professionals within the food and beverage industry, as well as for anyone interested in exploring the latest scientific advances behind health-promoting fermented and functional drinks.

This webinar will present current research on the development and application of probiotic and functional beverages as effective carriers of beneficial microorganisms and bioactive compounds. Topics will include the role of probiotic beverages in cognitive health through the gut–brain axis, the development of functional fermented dairy drinks using novel microbial strains, and the health effects of biofunctional fermented products on metabolic and oxidative stress markers.

This webinar offers a valuable opportunity to gain insights from recent scientific evidence and innovative case studies highlighting how fermented and functional beverages may support cognitive, metabolic, and overall health. Join us to explore emerging perspectives and future directions in the rapidly evolving field of probiotic and functional beverage research.

Date: Friday, 20 March 2026
Time: 14:00–15:30 CET
Webinar ID: 823 9425 3217
Webinar Secretariat:journal.webinar@mdpi.com
Webinar announcement: https://sciforum.net/event/Beverages-1?subscribe

Register now for free!

Speaker/Presentation

Time in CET

Dr. Panagiotis Kandylis and Dr. Dimitra Dimitrellou
Chair Introduction

2:00–2:10 p.m.

Dr. Antonio Bevilacqua
Beverages as Carriers for Probiotics With Cognitive Effects: Evidence and Perspectives

2:10–2:30 p.m.

Dr. Ioanna Prapa
Development of Functional Yogurt and Ayran Products Using a Novel Wild-Type Strain as an Adjunct Culture

2:30–2:45 p.m.

Dr. Olga I. Papagianni
The Effects of the Habitual Consumption of a Biofunctional Miso-Type Sauce Enhanced With Biocarotenoids on Oxidative Stress and Metabolic Markers: A Pilot Clinical Study–Nutritional Intervention

2:45–3:05 p.m.

Q&A Session

3:05–3:20 p.m.

Dr. Panagiotis Kandylis and Dr. Dimitra Dimitrellou
Closing of Webinar

3:20–3:30 p.m.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information on how to join the webinar. Registrations with academic or institutional email addresses will be prioritized.

Unable to attend? Feel free to still register; we will inform you when the recording is available.

Webinar Chairs and Keynote Speakers:

  • Dr. Panagiotis Kandylis, Department of Food Science and Technology, Ionian University, Argostoli, Greece;
  • Dr. Dimitra Dimitrellou, Department of Food Science and Technology, Ionian University, Argostoli, Greece;
  • Dr. Antonio Bevilacqua, Department of Agriculture, Food, Natural Resources and Engineering, University of Foggia, Italy;
  • Dr. Ioanna Prapa, Laboratory of Applied Microbiology & Biotechnology, Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece;
  • Dr. Olga I. Papagianni, Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of the Aegean, Greece.

Relevant Special Issue:
“Probiotics Empowering the Future of Beverages
Guest Editors: Dr. Panagiotis Kandylis and Dr. Dimitra Dimitrellou
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 October 2026

6 March 2026
Beverages | Editorial Board Members’ Perspectives in 2025 (II)

As all of the articles published in our journal are open access, you have free and unlimited access to the full texts. We welcome you to read our Editorial Board Members’ papers published in 2025, which are listed below:

1. “3.0 Strategies for Yeast Genetic Improvement in Brewing and Winemaking”
by Chiara Nasuti, Lisa Solieri and Kristoffer Krogerus
Beverages 2025, 11(4), 100; https://doi.org/10.3390/beverages11040100
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5710/11/4/100

2. “Sea Grape (Caulerpa racemosa) Kombucha: A Comprehensive Study of Metagenomic and Metabolomic Profiling, Its Molecular Mechanism of Action as an Antioxidative Agent, and the Impact of Fermentation Time”
by Dian Aruni Kumalawati, Reza Sukma Dewi, Noor Rezky Fitriani, Scheirana Zahira Muchtar, Juan Leonardo, Nurpudji Astuti Taslim, Raffaele Romano, Antonello Santini and Fahrul Nurkolis
Beverages 2025, 11(5), 134; https://doi.org/10.3390/beverages11050134
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5710/11/5/134

3. “Optimization of Grist Composition for Mash Production from Unmalted Wheat and Wheat Malt of Red Winter Wheat with Hybrid Endosperm Type”
by Kristina Habschied, Iztok Jože Košir, Miha Ocvirk, Krešimir Mastanjević and Vinko Krstanović
Beverages 2025, 11(4), 110; https://doi.org/10.3390/beverages11040110
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5710/11/4/110

4. “Effects of Enzymatic Hydrolysis Combined with Ultrasonic Treatment on the Properties of an Apple Juice Enriched with Apple Bagasse”
by Alina Manthei, Pedro Elez-Martínez, Olga Martín-Belloso and Robert Soliva-Fortuny
Beverages 2025, 11(5), 133; https://doi.org/10.3390/beverages11050133
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5710/11/5/133

5. “Functional Non-Alcoholic Beer Fermented with Potential Probiotic Yeasts”
by Peter Vaštík, Ján Brunner, Rudolf Jung, Tatiana Klempová, Katarína Furdíková, Daniela Šmogrovičová and Pavel Dostálek
Beverages 2025, 11(5), 140; https://doi.org/10.3390/beverages11050140
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5710/11/5/140

6. “Exploring Visualization of Beverage Consistency Through 2D and 3D Imaging Methods”
by Jane Mertz Garcia, Edgar Chambers IV, Madison Ukele, Abby Brey Althauser and David Rehfeld
Beverages 2025, 11(5), 141; https://doi.org/10.3390/beverages11050141
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5710/11/5/141

7. “The Impact of Brewing Methods on the Quality of a Cup of Coffee”
by Alessandro Genovese, Nicola Caporaso and Antonietta Baiano
Beverages 2025, 11(5), 125; https://doi.org/10.3390/beverages11050125
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5710/11/5/125

8. “Fermented Beverages from Amazonian Fruits: Nutritional Characteristics and Bioactive Compounds”
by Bárbara N. Batista, Ana Cristina Correia, António M. Jordão and Patrícia M. Albuquerque
Beverages 2025, 11(5), 152; https://doi.org/10.3390/beverages11050152
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5710/11/5/152

9. “Chitosan Hydrochloride Applied as a Grapevine Biostimulant Modulates Sauvignon Blanc Vines’ Growth, Grape, and Wine Composition”
by Matteo Marangon, Alessandro Botton, Franco Meggio, Anna Lante, Federica Tinello, Alberto De Iseppi, Christine Mayr Marangon, Simone Vincenzi and Andrea Curioni
Beverages 2025, 11(6), 168; https://doi.org/10.3390/beverages11060168
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5710/11/6/168

10. “Development of Functional Fruit, Vegetable, and Herbal Beverages Enriched with Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid and Polyphenols: Is It Feasible?”
by Petko Denev, Daniela Pencheva, Desislava Teneva, Manol Ognyanov and Zornica Todorova
Beverages 2025, 11(6), 176; https://doi.org/10.3390/beverages11060176
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5710/11/6/176

6 March 2026
Beverages | Editorial Board Members’ Perspectives in 2025 (I)

As all of the articles published in our journal are open access, you have free and unlimited access to the full texts. We welcome you to read our Editorial Board Members’ papers published in 2025, which are listed below:

1. “Sustainable Wine Fining: Evaluating Grape Pomace as a Natural Alternative to Commercial Agents”
by Evangelos Kokkinomagoulos and Panagiotis Kandylis
Beverages 2025, 11(2), 31; https://doi.org/10.3390/beverages11020031
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5710/11/2/31

2. “The Gut–Brain Axis and Probiotics in Beverages and Liquid Preparations: A PRISMA Systematic Review on Cognitive Function Enhancement”
by Alfonso Filippone, Umberto Barbieri, Maria Rosaria Corbo, Milena Sinigaglia and Antonio Bevilacqua
Beverages 2025, 11(3), 85; https://doi.org/10.3390/beverages11030085
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5710/11/3/85

3. “Volatile Compounds as Markers of Terroir and Winemaking Practices in Fetească Albă Wines of Romania”
by Ioana-Cristina Bredeag (Rebigan), Ionel-Bogdan Cioroiu, Marius Niculaua, Constantin-Bogdan Nechita and Valeriu V. Cotea
Beverages 2025, 11(3), 67; https://doi.org/10.3390/beverages11030067
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5710/11/3/67

4. “Caffeine and Polyphenolic Compound Recovery Optimization from Spent Coffee Grounds Utilizing Pressurized Liquid Extraction”
by Athanasios Christoforidis, Martha Mantiniotou, Vassilis Athanasiadis and Stavros I. Lalas
Beverages 2025, 11(3), 74; https://doi.org/10.3390/beverages11030074
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5710/11/3/74

5. “Unveiling the Regional Identity of Madeira Wine: Insights from Saccharomyces cerevisiae Strains Using Interdelta Analysis”
by Mariangie M. Castillo, Nikol Parra, José S. Câmara and Mahnaz Khadem
Beverages 2025, 11(3), 84; https://doi.org/10.3390/beverages11030084
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5710/11/3/84

6. “Polyphenolic, Anthocyanin, and Volatile Profile of Barrel-Aged Industrial Red Wines Made from Vitis vinifera Cv Maratheftiko”
by Kosmas Roufas, Theodoros Chatzimitakos, Vassilis Athanasiadis, Stavros I. Lalas, Artemis Toulaki and Dimitris P. Makris
Beverages 2025, 11(2), 36; https://doi.org/10.3390/beverages11020036
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5710/11/2/36

7. “Physicochemical Properties of Traditionally Produced Mead”
by Kristina Habschied, Blanka Bilić Rajs, Lorena Dozan, Vinko Krstanović and Krešimir Mastanjević
Beverages 2025, 11(3), 61; https://doi.org/10.3390/beverages1103006
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5710/11/3/61

8. “Astringency Modification of Mandilaria Wines: Vineyard and Winery Strategies”
by Christina Karadimou, Theodoros Gkrimpizis, Eleni Louki, Lamprini Roussi, Nikolaos Theodorou, Stefanos Koundouras and Stamatina Kallithraka
Beverages 2025, 11(3), 76; https://doi.org/10.3390/beverages11030076
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5710/11/3/76

9. “Varietal Authentication of Brunello di Montalcino Wine Using a Minimal Panel of DNA Markers”
by Maxwell K. Kibor, Monica Scali and Rita Vignani
Beverages 2025, 11(3), 81; https://doi.org/10.3390/beverages11030081
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5710/11/3/81

10. “Nanostrategy for Selective Ethyl Carbamate Removal from Fermented Alcoholic Beverages via Molecular Imprinting Technology”
by Rosa Perestrelo
Beverages 2025, 11(2), 30; https://doi.org/10.3390/beverages11020030
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5710/11/2/30

28 February 2026
MDPI INSIGHTS: The CEO’s Letter #32 - MDPI China and Thailand, China Science Daily, 1,000 Partnerships, R2R

Welcome to the MDPI Insights: The CEO's Letter.

In these monthly letters, I will showcase two key aspects of our work at MDPI: our commitment to empowering researchers and our determination to facilitating open scientific exchange.


Opening Thoughts

Reflections from China: Year-End-Celebrations and Open Access Publishing

In February, I had the pleasure of joining over a thousand colleagues from our Tongzhou and Haidian offices at their end-of-year annual celebration in Beijing.

Spending time with our teams in China is also a powerful reminder of the scale and complexity of MDPI as a global organization. Our colleagues in Beijing, Wuhan, and across the country play a significant role in our day-to-day operations and long-term development. I’m grateful for the hospitality, collaboration, and commitment shown by our managers and teams in China, alongside colleagues worldwide, who have helped steadily build MDPI, brick by brick, over the years.

Below are some data on Open Access (OA) publishing in China and our collaboration in this important research market.

Open Access Publishing in China

China has been the world’s leading country in research and review article publication volume since 2019, exceeding one million publications in 2025. Over the past five years, the gap between China and the second-ranked country, the United States, has continued to widen.

In 2025:

  • 47% of China’s research output was published Open Access
  • Of those OA publications, 76% were Gold Open Access (approximately 382,930 articles)
  • The overall OA distribution remained stable compared with 2024, with Gold OA increasing by 1%

Over the past five years (2021–2025):

  • China published 4,398,050 research and review articles
  • Approximately 48% of this output was OA

According to Dimensions, when comparing the top 20 countries by publication volume (2021–2025):

  • China ranks 1st worldwide in publication volume
  • China ranks 9th in citation performance within this group (for comparison, the US ranks 2nd in publication volume and 10th in citation ranking)
  • Average citations per article: 12.51

Among the top 10 universities globally by publication volume, six are Chinese institutions, alongside Harvard University (USA), the University of São Paulo (Brazil), the University of Toronto (Canada), and the University of Oxford (UK).

MDPI and China

China is an important and long-standing part of MDPI’s global publishing ecosystem:

  • In 2025, MDPI was the largest fully Open Access publisher in China
  • MDPI published 22% of China’s Gold Open Access output (82,133 papers)
  • We received 290,999 submissions from China-affiliated authors and published 82,133 articles
  • There are 8,500+ active Editorial Board Members based in China
    • 64% (5,438) have an H-index above 26
  • MDPI works with:
    • 117 Editors-in-Chief
    • 103 Section Editors-in-Chief
  • 71 China-based institutions currently hold IOAP agreements with MDPI, seven of which rank among the top 10 Chinese institutions by publication volume

China's scale in research output means that the publishing platforms chosen by Chinese scholars will continue to influence the direction of scholarly publishing. At the same time, MDPI’s strength comes from its international collaboration, with colleagues, editors, reviewers, and authors working together across regions and disciplines.

Thank you to all our colleagues in China, and around the world, who support MDPI’s publishing activities across departments and help advance open access research every day.

Impactful Research

“Progress in open science is built through trust, dialogue, and relationships”

Behind the Scenes: A Conversation with China Science Daily

During my trip to Beijing, I also had the opportunity to visit China Science Daily and take part in an interview and broader exchange with their team in Beijing. Visits like this matter because progress in open science is built not only through platforms and infrastructure, but also through trust, dialogue, and relationships across research communities and regions.

China Science Daily: History Museum

As part of the visit, I was given a tour of their History Museum, which offers a thorough perspective on the evolution of China’s first science and technology newspaper, established in 1959. The exhibition highlights how the organization developed into a trusted institution connecting research with the public and policymakers. It was a helpful reminder that at the core of publishing is stewardship, credibility, and long-term public engagement with science.

An Open Exchange on Open Science

During the visit, I met with Dr. Zhao Yan, Editor-in-Chief of ScienceNet. We had an open and engaging conversation about MDPI’s role in Open Access, the evolution of open science globally, and the potential for more collaboration going forward. He especially appreciated the candid and personal nature of our exchange, noting that this kind of dialogue feels important in a landscape where trust and transparency matter.

Interview on Open Access

I also participated in an interview with Ms. Yan Jie, from the Online Media Center and Editor-in-Chief of ScienceNet, China Science Daily. Our discussion covered the growth of Open Access over the past 30 years, MDPI’s mission and values, academic integrity, collaboration with the Chinese research community, and MDPI’s own 30th anniversary milestone. It was a great opportunity to reflect on how open science has matured, and where shared responsibility across publishers, institutions, and researchers continues to matter most.

“Progress in open science is built by more than scale and infrastructure”

I’m sharing a few photos from the visit as a glimpse behind the scenes. The full interview will be published by China Science Daily in due course, and I look forward to sharing it when it is available.

More broadly, visits like this reinforce something I’ve always believed in: progress in open science is built not only through scale and infrastructure, but also through continued dialogue, mutual respect, collaboration, and a willingness to listen across regions and perspectives. That remains central to our work, especially as MDPI reflects on 30 years of publishing, built together.

Inside MDPI

Bangkok Visit: Growth, Partnership, and Local Impact

In February, I also had the opportunity to visit our Bangkok office for the second time in two years to support their local meetings and deliver a training session on how we present MDPI at a corporate level.

It’s easy to spend time with our colleagues in Thailand. From Editorial and Production to Conferences, Marketing, Design, and our Regional Journal Relations Specialist (RJRS), the team continues to grow in scale and professionalism. I’d also like to recognize our local management and admin teams, who have been steadily expanding our office and supporting more than 500 colleagues on the ground.

Academic Partnerships

During the visit, we met with the Engineering Department at King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL). Our discussion focused on the recent MDPI developments, Institutional Open Access Program (IOAP) opportunities, Author Publishing Workshops (APW), and the potential use of JAMS to support their institutional journal.

“MDPI is the third-largest OA publisher in Thailand”

We also shared insights into the growth of Open Access (OA) in Thailand and KMITL’s own publishing trends. These conversations matter because institutions are looking for sustainable ways to support their researchers. Our IOAP agreements are one simple example of how we can provide value in this area while maintaining accessibility for authors.

Thailand and MDPI: 2025 Snapshot

Our Bangkok office, officially launched in 2022, has been growing to support over 500 staff members while continuing to expand its engagement in scholar visits, workshops, and conference collaborations. As at 2025, Thailand submissions to MDPI have increased about 21% and publications by about 25%, maintaining a rejection rate close to the company average. MDPI is the third-largest OA publisher in Thailand, publishing 15% of all Gold OA output in 2025.

Representing MDPI Externally

During the visit, I delivered a training session on how we present MDPI at external events.

This session covered topics related to:

  • Our aim and guiding principles
  • High-level company milestones and Indexing facts and figures
  • Industry partnerships and collaborations
  • Market trends in OA and subscription publishing
  • Country-specific publishing data and collaborations with MDPI
  • Insights from our Voice of Community report

I find that while many colleagues are very familiar with the specific journal for which they have responsibility, fewer have visibility into the broader MDPI ecosystem and the company’s global positioning. These sessions help build alignment, confidence, and consistency in how we represent the company.

What stands out most is that MDPI’s growth is not abstract: it’s visible in the people, the partnerships, and the professionalism developing across our offices.

Coming Together for Science

1,000 Institutional Partners: A Milestone Built on Trust

This month, we reached an important milestone: more than 1,000 institutions worldwide are now part of MDPI’s Institutional Open Access Program (IOAP). On paper, that is a number. In practice, it represents trust.

This milestone symbolizes thousands of conversations with libraries and institutions. It stands for negotiations, renewals, consortium expansions, and, most importantly, relationships built over time. It reflects the work of colleagues across publishing, institutional partnerships, marketing, editorial, finance, and many other teams who contribute to making these agreements operational.

In 2025 alone, more than 61,300 research articles benefited from article processing charge (APC) discounts through IOAP agreements. Tens of thousands of authors were able to publish through a simplified and structured process. At the same time, institutional administrators gained clearer oversight and streamlined workflows.

Why IOAP Matters

When we launched IOAP, the objective was straightforward: to reduce barriers for researchers while supporting institutions in navigating the evolving OA landscape. Over the past decade, the research ecosystem has changed. Funder mandates, national policies, and Plan S–aligned requirements have accelerated the transition to OA.

Institutions need publishing partners who provide transparency, scalability, and operational efficiency. IOAP was designed to support that reality.

For colleagues who would like to better understand the program, this blog-post overview of MDPI’s IOAP provides additional context, including common questions around the transition to OA and how our institutional partnerships are structured.

“Institutions need publishing partners who provide transparency, scalability, and operational efficiency”

Recent Examples

Our agreements continue to evolve across regions:

These examples show that institutions seek structured, predictable models that support their researchers at scale.

Looking Ahead

Crossing the threshold of 1,000 partners tells us that institutions see MDPI not just as a publisher but as a reliable operational partner in advancing open science. This milestone is not a finish line. It is a reminder that the work continues.

Thank you to the entire IOAP team and to all colleagues who contributed to reaching this achievement.

P.S. You can read about this milestone across industry outlets, including STM Publishing News, ALPSP, Research Information, EurekAlert, Brightsurf, among others. You can also read about the coverage in Poland (e.g., media-room, bomega) Korea (newstap), and Romania (EduLike).

Closing Thoughts

Reflections from the Researcher to Reader Conference

During 24–25 February, I attended the 2026 Researcher to Reader Conference in London, UK. Leaders from across scholarly publishing, research infrastructure, libraries, and technology gathered to discuss AI and research integrity, peer review reform, metadata and infrastructure, community engagement, open research policy, and the evolving role of publishers in a rapidly shifting ecosystem.

The conversations were open and honest, and at times uncomfortable – exactly what we need at times. Below are a few reflections that stayed with me.

The Battle for Knowledge: What Becomes Accepted as ‘True’?

One recurring theme was not whether science evolves but whether our infrastructure is resilient enough to sustain trust at scale. Science does not promise certainty: it promises process. As publishing systems grow more complex and become more technologically mediated, the question is how intentionally we design, monitor, and strengthen that process.

Peer Review: Speed, Credentials, and Structural Loops

Researchers consistently call for faster peer review. At the same time, reviewer credentials are often tied to publication records. This creates a structural loop. Publishing history opens reviewing opportunities, reviewing strengthens credentials, and those without early access remain outside the cycle.

There is a need for us to reflect on how opportunity circulates within our systems: we should ask how we create more inclusive pathways for researchers globally to participate in peer review.

Community Engagement Workshop

One of the highlights of R2R was the workshop format, whereby small groups met repeatedly over two days and moved from ideas to tangible strategies.

I joined the Community Engagement workshop led by Lou Peck (CEO at The International Bunch) and Godwyns Onwuchekwa (Principal Consultant at Global Tapestry Consulting). We explored two deceptively simple questions: What is a community? and What does engagement truly mean?

“Engagement requires shared design and shared responsibility”

Too often, organizations equate communication with engagement. The framework discussed mapped a maturity spectrum – from enablement (broadcasting, informing and consulting) to true engagement (collaborating and co-creating).

It was a useful reminder of the fact that if we want trust and loyalty, engagement must go beyond announcements and surveys. It requires shared design and shared responsibility.

AI: Democratization or Digital Colonialism?

I especially enjoyed the thought-provoking presentation from Nikesh Gosalia (Chief Partnership Officer at Cactus Communications), which highlighted an uncomfortable reality:

  • 93% of AI-generated content is in English
  • Approximately 2% is in French
  • Approximately 2% is in German
  • More than 7,000 languages are represented in less than 5% of the content within large AI systems

The implications are profound. Is AI democratizing access to scholarly publishing (making it easier for researchers everywhere to participate in global knowledge production)? Or are we encoding colonialism at scale (entrenching linguistic and structural hierarchies, and making it harder for voices from the Global South to be heard)?

AI is already reshaping how research is created, reviewed, discovered, and shared. Its potential is enormous. But its impact depends not only on capability, but on governance, design, and intentionality. Publishers, funders, and researchers all share responsibility in shaping how these systems evolve.

Ethicality in practice (Lightening Talk)

It was also great to have our colleague Dr Miloš Čučulović (Head of Technology Innovation at MDPI) present MDPI’s Ethicality platform during a lightning talk.

“Technology alone is not the answer”

Ethicality embeds AI-driven checks directly into the submission workflow, supporting editors proactively rather than reacting after publication. As we scale, tools like this help balance trust, efficiency, and research integrity.

This goes back into the underlying theme of the conference that technology alone is not the answer. However, technology embedded thoughtfully within clear governance frameworks can strengthen confidence in the editorial process.

Final thought

The question is no longer whether technology will transform research infrastructure: it is already doing so. The real question is what role each of us will play in shaping that transformation deliberately, with structural maturity, inclusive governance, and engagement that moves from informing to co-creating.

Science needs to evolve, responsibly. And that responsibility extends not only to what we publish, but also to how the systems behind publication are designed. Some important topics to continue reflecting on both internally and within our broader community.

Stefan Tochev
Chief Executive Officer
MDPI AG

26 February 2026
Beverages Webinar | Probiotic and Functional Beverages: Packaging, Stability, and Bio-Fortification Strategies, 23 March 2026


This webinar will spotlight the latest research advances and technological innovations driving the development of next-generation probiotic beverages. The program will cover a range of timely topics, including novel packaging solutions for food and beverage applications, nutritional support strategies for lactic acid bacteria through the valorization of wine lees, and approaches to improve probiotic stability and functionality.

Key discussions will address methods to enhance probiotic viability during processing, storage, and gastrointestinal transit, as well as emerging bio-fortification techniques tailored for beverage matrices. Together, these perspectives aim to tackle critical challenges in probiotic beverage formulation, from sustainable ingredient utilization to maintaining product efficacy and consumer health benefits.

We warmly invite researchers, industry professionals, and practitioners to participate in this engaging webinar to explore cutting-edge solutions and future directions shaping the evolving landscape of probiotic beverages. Join us to exchange insights, share expertise, and contribute to advancing innovation in functional beverage development.

Date: 23 March 2026 at 1:00 p.m. CET| 8:00 p.m. CST Asia
Webinar ID: 817 4139 2655
Website: https://sciforum.net/event/Beverages-2

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information on how to join the webinar. Registrations made with academic institutional email addresses will be prioritized.

Unable to attend? Register anyway and we will let you know when the recording is available to watch online.

Register now for free!

Program:

Speaker/Presentation

Time in CET

Time in CST Asia

MDPI Introduction

1:00–1:10 p.m.

8:00–8:10 p.m.

Dr. Panagiotis Kandylis and Dr. Dimitra Dimitrellou

Chair Introduction

1:10–1:20 p.m.

8:10–8:20 p.m.

Dr. Poonam Nigam

Packaging Solutions for Food and Beverages

1:20–1:40 p.m.

8:20–8:40 p.m.

Dr. Evangelos Kokkinomagoulos

Nutritional Support of Lactic Acid Bacteria in Probiotic Beverages: Insights From Wine Lees Valorization

1:40–1:55 p.m.

8:40–8:55 p.m.

Mrs. Eleni Sakadani

Enhancing Probiotic Viability in Beverages During Storage and Gastrointestinal Transit

1:55–2:10 p.m.

8:55–9:10 p.m.

Dr. Anastasios Nikolaou

Probiotic Bio-Fortification of Beverages

2:10–2:25 p.m.

9:10–9:25 p.m.

Q&A Session

2:25–2:40 p.m.

9:25–9:40 p.m.

Dr. Panagiotis Kandylis and Dr. Dimitra Dimitrellou

Closing of Webinar

2:40–2:45 p.m.

9:40–9:45 p.m.

Webinar Chairs and Speakers:

  • Dr. Panagiotis Kandylis (Chair), Ionian University, Greece;
  • Dr. Dimitra Dimitrellou (Chair), Ionian University, Greece;
  • Dr. Poonam Nigam, Ulster University, United Kingdom;
  • Dr. Evangelos Kokkinomagoulos, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece;
  • Ms. Eleni Sakantani, Ionian University, Greece;
  • Dr. Anastasios Nikolaou, Democritus University of Thrace, Greece.

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