Integrated Sustainable Innovations in Animal-Based Food Processing, Preservation and Byproduct Utilization

About this Research Topic

Background

The animal-based food sector stands at a critical junction amid increasing global demand driven by population growth, urbanization, and rising incomes, particularly in developing regions. While this trend promotes economic advancement and better nutrition, it also presents significant challenges. Producing animal-based foods demands extensive resources, including water, energy and land and it is also associated with greenhouse gas emissions and environmental harm. Moreover, concerns regarding food safety, effective processing and waste management are growing rampantly. Consequently, the industry is adopting sustainable innovations aimed at refining processing techniques, boosting preservation methods and optimizing byproduct utilization. These advancements include energy-efficient technologies, natural preservatives and strategies for recovering value from waste. By adopting these sustainable practices, the animal-based food sector aims to reduce its environmental footprint, enhance food quality and safety and move towards a more circular, resource-efficient food system that supports long-term ecological, nutritional and economic sustainability.

This Research Topic aims to explore sustainable innovations in the processing and preservation of animal-based food products with the goal of improving efficiency, reducing environmental impacts, and increasing product value. This includes the creation of energy and water-efficient processing methods, employing eco-friendly preservation techniques like natural antimicrobials and high-pressure processing, and improving shelf life through intelligent packaging. The utilization of animal byproducts to create bioenergy, pharmaceuticals, fertilizers, and pet foods is another focal point, striving towards zero waste systems. Research should also focus on minimizing carbon and water footprints by employing lifecycle assessments and circular economy principles. Ensuring food safety through technologies like sensors and traceability tools is essential. Future advancements must emphasize capacity building, support collaborative research, and integrate sustainable policy frameworks to bolster the industry's resilience, aligning with broader sustainable development objectives.

To gather further insights on sustainable innovations in animal-based food processing, preservation, and byproduct utilization, we welcome original research articles and reviews addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

o Sustainable processing technologies

o Novel preservation techniques

o By-product recovery and valorisation

o Food safety and quality assurance

o Environmental impact and life cycle assessment

o Policy frameworks to promote sustainable innovations

o Smart and digital technologies in food systems

o Nutritional enhancement and functional animal food product development

o Consumer behaviour and market trends

o Wastewater and emission management in milk and meat industries.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Clinical Trial
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Clinical Trial
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: meat, milk, processing, preservation, value addition

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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