The challenges of food preservation materials and technologies for a more sustainable world

Abstract

In a global scenario so severely affected by food insecurity, all food science and technology stakeholders are called to face the most pivotal of the sustainability challenges: ensuring the availability of safe and adaptable foods in all territories; foods that meet our needs as consumers with least possible negative impact. This was the guiding subject of the presentations and discussions that animated the tenth edition of the Shelf Life International Meeting (SLIM 2022), held in Bogotá from November 28th to December 1st 2022. The congress, organized for the first time in Latin America, was the main international rendezvous entirely dedicated to the latest developments and future prospects in the field of shelf life and food packaging. The Colombian capital hosted over 140 researchers and experts from academic institutions and companies around the world, including Colombia, Italy, Spain, Peru, Chile, Mexico, Ecuador, and the United States, who presented 91 scientific contributions. It was an opportunity for an exchange of scientific and technological knowledge on crucial aspects for achieving more sustainable food chains and, consequently, a more sustainable world. A future is possible where food packaging systems and other preservation technologies not only ensure the integrity of our food supply but also minimize environmental impact and promote the well-being of consumers worldwide. We hereby discuss the main outcomes of the meeting, attempting to catalogue and contextualize the selection of works that are part of the Food Packaging and Shelf Life special issue dedicated to SLIM 2022.