About this Research Topic

Background

The current estimate suggests that about one-third of the global food production is lost or wasted annually, these food losses and waste (FLW) account for 30% of the world’s agricultural land and 38% of the total energy consumption in global food systems. FLW is also a driver of climate change, responsible for approximately 8-10 % of the global anthropogenic GHG emissions. Reducing these vast amounts of FLW and enhancing the efficiencies of our food systems provides an excellent opportunity to meet the growing demand for food more sustainably. The impact of FLW on the global economy and environment is alarming, which highlights an urgency to take significant research and development to better understand FLW and device pre-and-postharvest applications to reduce them.

Therefore, this Research Topic aims to cover the recent developments in research that increase storability and shelf-life for agricultural products and in turn reduce FLW. The commodities include fresh fruits, vegetables, cereals and grains, oilseeds, medicinal and aromatic plants, ornamental plants, and others. Moreover, the research takes account of the effects of abiotic/biotic stresses (in some cases induced by climate change and climate variability) and pre-harvest treatments on quality, postharvest behavior, storability, molecular response, and antioxidants content is particularly welcome. We look forward to receiving original research papers, reviews, mini-reviews, perspectives, and methods.

This issue particular focuses on the following subtopics, but is not limited to:
• Pre- and postharvest applications for increasing the postharvest shelf life and storability.
• The effect of abiotic and/or biotic stresses on the postharvest quality (physio-chemical) of all agricultural products.
• The impact of climate change on the post-harvest components of the food systems.
• Methods and technologies for measuring and reducing FLW.
• Breeding and molecular biology as a tool for enhancing the postharvest quality and management of agricultural products.
• Controlling postharvest pests and diseases with safe and eco-friendly techniques.

Descriptive studies that purely report omics data, responses treatments, or quality will not be considered if they do not progress physiological understanding of these responses.

Note: Only manuscripts related to methods and technologies for measuring and reducing FLW can be submitted to Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, section Waste Management in Agroecosystems. All other manuscripts on pre-/postharvest physiology, breeding, and pest and disease management control towards FLW reduction should be submitted to Frontiers in Plant Science.

Keywords: postharvest handling and storage, postharvest loss assessment, abiotic and biotic stresses, molecular response, food loss and waste, storage methods, controlled and modified atmosphere packaging, edible coating, active packaging, postharvest pest and dise

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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