Harnessing Lignocellulosic Crops for Phytomanagement of Contaminated Soils: A Multi-Country Study.

The dwindling availability of agricultural land, caused by factors such as rapid population growth, urban expansion, and soil contamination, has significantly increased the pressure on food production. To address this challenge, cultivating non-food crops on contaminated land has emerged as a promising solution. This approach not only frees up fertile soil for food production but also mitigates human exposure to contaminants.

Exploring the Benefits of Nutritional and Chemical Characteristics of Touriga Nacional and Arinto Varieties ( L.).

Environmental degradation leads to an unsustainable food system. In addition to this issue, the consumption of foods that improve people's health and well-being is recommended. One of the alternatives is undoubtedly the use of by-products of winemaking, namely in the form of grape pomace flour (GPF).

Effects of Humic Substances and Mycorrhizal Fungi on Drought-Stressed Cactus: Focus on Growth, Physiology, and Biochemistry.

Utilizing water resources rationally has become critical due to the expected increase in water scarcity. Cacti are capable of surviving with minimal water requirements and in poor soils. Despite being highly drought-resistant, cacti still faces limitations in realizing its full potential under drought-stress conditions.

Current Applications of Bionanocomposites in Food Processing and Packaging.

Nanotechnology advances are rapidly spreading through the food science field; however, their major application has been focused on the development of novel packaging materials reinforced with nanoparticles. Bionanocomposites are formed with a bio-based polymeric material incorporated with components at a nanoscale size. These bionanocomposites can also be applied to preparing an encapsulation system aimed at the controlled release of active compounds, which is more related to the development of novel ingredients in the food science and technology field.

spp.: An Overview of the Bioactive Profile and Food Applications of This Versatile Crop Adapted to Arid Lands.

spp. are crops well adapted to adverse environments and have great economic potential. Their constituents, including fruits, cladodes, and flowers, have a high nutritional value and are rich in value-added compounds.

Phytochemicals Recovery from Grape Pomace: Extraction Improvement and Chemometric Study.

In the last 20 years, an increased interest has been shown in the application of different types and combinations of enzymes to obtain phenolic extracts from grape pomace in order to maximize its valorization. Within this framework, the present study aims at improving the recovery of phenolic compounds from Merlot and Garganega pomace and at contributing to the scientific background of enzyme-assisted extraction. Five commercial cellulolytic enzymes were tested in different conditions.

Methodologies to Assess the Biodegradability of Bio-Based Polymers-Current Knowledge and Existing Gaps.

Our society lives in a time of transition where traditional petroleum-based polymers/plastics are being replaced by more sustainable alternative materials. To consider these bioproducts as more viable options than the actual ones, it is demanded to ensure that they are fully biodegradable or compostable and that there is no release of hazardous compounds to the environment with their degradation. It is then essential to adapt the legislation to support novel specific guidelines to test the biodegradability of each biopolymer in varied environments, and consequently, establish consistent data to design a coherent labeling system.

Bio-Based Sensors for Smart Food Packaging-Current Applications and Future Trends.

Intelligent food packaging is emerging as a novel technology, capable of monitoring the quality and safety of food during its shelf-life time. This technology makes use of indicators and sensors that are applied in the packaging and that detect changes in physiological variations of the foodstuffs (due to microbial and chemical degradation). These indicators usually provide information, e.

Understanding the Barrier and Mechanical Behavior of Different Nanofillers in Chitosan Films for Food Packaging.

The continuous petroleum-based plastics manufacturing generates disposal issues, spreading the problem of plastic pollution and its rise in the environment. Recently, innovative techniques and scientific research promoted biopolymers as the primary alternative for traditional plastics, raising and expanding global bioplastic production. Due to its unmatched biological and functional attributes, chitosan (Ch) has been substantially explored and employed as a biopolymeric matrix.

A New Insight on Cardoon Exploring New Uses besides Cheese Making with a View to Zero Waste.

Cardoon, L., is a perennial plant whose flowers are used as vegetal rennet in cheese making. Cardoon is native from the Mediterranean area and is commonly used in the preparation of salads and soup dishes.

Chitosan Composites in Packaging Industry-Current Trends and Future Challenges.

Chitosan-based composites play an important role in food packaging applications and can be used either as films or as edible coatings. Due to their high costs and lower performance (i.e.