Shelf life extension

Renovation of Agro-Waste for Sustainable Food Packaging: A Review

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This review explores how agricultural waste can be transformed into eco-friendly food packaging materials. Researchers are finding ways to extract valuable compounds like cellulose from crop residues and chitin from shrimp shells to create biodegradable packaging films that preserve food while reducing environmental pollution. These sustainable packaging alternatives perform as well as conventional plastics while being completely biodegradable, representing an important step toward a circular economy and reducing agricultural waste.

Applications of Natural Polymers in the Grapevine Industry: Plant Protection and Value-Added Utilization of Waste

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Grapevines face significant challenges from drought, extreme temperatures, and fungal diseases. Natural polymers like chitosan, alginate, and cellulose can create protective coatings on grapes that help them retain water, resist pests, and stay healthy. Additionally, waste from grape processing can be recycled into valuable compounds and encapsulated in these polymers for use as plant strengtheners or in food and pharmaceuticals, creating a more sustainable wine industry.

Valorization of Mushroom Residues for Functional Food Packaging

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Mushrooms produce large amounts of waste during growth and processing, but these leftovers contain valuable compounds that can protect food and extend shelf life. Scientists are developing ways to extract these beneficial compounds and add them to eco-friendly packaging films, creating materials that fight bacteria and oxidation naturally. This approach transforms mushroom waste into useful products while reducing environmental pollution, making food packaging safer and more sustainable for consumers.

Edible Mushrooms as Functional Ingredients for Development of Healthier and More Sustainable Muscle Foods: A Flexitarian Approach

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This comprehensive review explains how edible mushrooms can be added to meat and fish products to make them healthier and more environmentally friendly. Mushrooms are rich in protein, fiber, vitamins, and natural compounds that fight disease and prevent spoilage. By replacing part of the meat with mushrooms, food makers can create products with better nutrition, longer shelf-life, and reduced salt content, while supporting those pursuing flexitarian diets.

Lactic acid bacteria: beyond fermentation to bio-protection against fungal spoilage and mycotoxins in food systems

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Mold and fungal toxins spoil food and threaten human health, costing billions globally. While chemical preservatives work, many consumers want natural alternatives. Lactic acid bacteria (the same organisms used in yogurt production) produce natural antimicrobial compounds that can prevent mold growth and neutralize harmful toxins, offering a safer, more natural way to keep food fresh longer.

Carvacrol Encapsulation in Chitosan–Carboxymethylcellulose–Alginate Nanocarriers for Postharvest Tomato Protection

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Researchers created tiny nanocarriers made from natural biopolymers that can deliver carvacrol, a natural antimicrobial compound from oregano and thyme, to protect tomatoes from fungal rot after harvest. These nano-sized delivery systems were more effective than the unencapsulated carvacrol at fighting three common postharvest fungal pathogens. The treatment is safe and could offer a sustainable alternative to conventional fungicides for keeping harvested tomatoes fresh longer.

Advancing Food Preservation: Sustainable Green-AgNPs Bionanocomposites in Paper-Starch Flexible Packaging for Prolonged Shelf Life

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Researchers developed an eco-friendly food packaging material by coating paper with corn starch and tiny silver particles created through green chemistry methods. This innovative packaging significantly improved food durability, reducing weight loss in fresh produce like tomatoes and grapes by 6-8% over six days. The material is completely biodegradable and poses no safety concerns, making it a sustainable alternative to traditional plastic packaging.

Recent Advances in Biosynthesis Technology and Future Functional Foods

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Scientists are using engineered microorganisms and advanced fermentation techniques to create healthy food ingredients in a sustainable way. This editorial highlights seven studies showing how these biotechnology approaches improve functional foods, from creating probiotic strains and preserving fish to developing nutrient-enriched biscuits and discovering natural compounds with protective health effects. These innovations offer practical solutions for making foods healthier while reducing environmental impact compared to traditional methods.

therapeutic action: Shelf life extension