Mahdi Vahdanjoo, Claus Grøn Sørensen, Michael Nørremark
{"title":"Digital transformation of the agri-food system","authors":"Mahdi Vahdanjoo, Claus Grøn Sørensen, Michael Nørremark","doi":"10.1016/j.cofs.2025.101287","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cofs.2025.101287","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of digital transformation in the agri-food sector. The study emphasizes digitalization as both an enabler of production efficiency and a radical innovator, redesigning business models and agricultural practices. The study explores the development of applications and products that connect consumers, supply chain actors, and producers, leading to customized food products. It highlights the notion of circular agri-food systems for feedback loops in the value chain, minimizing waste and integrating environmental and social values. Also, the paper explores the challenges in digital adoption, including technical barriers, privacy, and security concerns. To overcome these challenges, an interdisciplinary approach is proposed, merging technological, ecological, economic, and governance insights. Key needs identified for successful digital transformation include enhanced data processing, technological convergence, sustainability awareness, interoperability, and user adoption. The conclusion stresses the importance of invoking systemic thinking, user-friendly designs, and interdisciplinary collaboration in making sure that digital innovations enable a sustainable and resilient food production system.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54291,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Food Science","volume":"63 ","pages":"Article 101287"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143619151","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pier Paolo Becchi , Gabriele Rocchetti , Luigi Lucini
{"title":"Advancing dairy science through integrated analytical approaches based on multi-omics and machine learning","authors":"Pier Paolo Becchi , Gabriele Rocchetti , Luigi Lucini","doi":"10.1016/j.cofs.2025.101289","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cofs.2025.101289","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Using advanced platforms such as nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry, metabolomics enables the comprehensive profiling of small molecules in milk, providing insights into its nutritional value, contamination levels, and processing effects. The integration of metabolomics with other omics approaches, such as metagenomics and proteomics, has demonstrated great potential. This multi-omics strategy enhances the understanding of the biochemical complexity underlying milk production and quality, paving the way for innovative research into the interactions between different molecular components in dairy products. Furthermore, combining multi-omics with machine learning (ML) has revolutionized data interpretation by uncovering patterns and correlations within complex data sets. Researchers can effectively predict and classify milk quality attributes, detect adulteration, and authenticate product origin by employing multivariate statistics and ML algorithms. This short review underscores the role of integrated omics approaches in dairy science, illustrating their capacity to enhance practices, ensure quality, and strengthen traceability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54291,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Food Science","volume":"63 ","pages":"Article 101289"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143592886","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Carlos García-Latorre , Santiago Ruiz-Moyano , Alicia Rodríguez , Rocío Velázquez , María J Poblaciones , Alejandro Hernández
{"title":"From field to fork: the benefits of Trichoderma spp. in food quality and safety","authors":"Carlos García-Latorre , Santiago Ruiz-Moyano , Alicia Rodríguez , Rocío Velázquez , María J Poblaciones , Alejandro Hernández","doi":"10.1016/j.cofs.2025.101286","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cofs.2025.101286","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The use of the genus <em>Trichoderma</em> has grown exponentially in recent decades, primarily associated with its antagonistic properties and yield improvement capabilities. Recently, <em>Trichoderma</em> spp. are related to the ability to biofortify crops or biodetoxify soils or wastewater. However, the impact of their use on postharvest quality and safety has been scarcely explored. This review highlights the potential applications of <em>Trichoderma</em> spp. in the compositional improvement of agricultural products by increasing functional compounds, such as phenolics, and the sensory improvement of products through the increase of pigments associated with color, texture, and palatability. In addition, the benefits of its application in the field can contribute decisively to improving food safety due to its capacity to control postharvest pathogens, mainly toxigenic molds and their dangerous toxins or bioremediation. With all this, <em>Trichoderma</em> spp. can be considered a valuable ally of the food industry for enhancing the quality and safety of food.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54291,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Food Science","volume":"63 ","pages":"Article 101286"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143580494","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Recent advances in synergistic effect of lactoferrin","authors":"Yingying Lin , Sijia Song , Huiyuan Guo","doi":"10.1016/j.cofs.2025.101285","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cofs.2025.101285","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Lactoferrin (LF) is a multifunctional iron-binding glycoprotein that possesses a variety of functions, such as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and intestinal health promotion. However, its application was restricted by its instability and poor gelation property. Recently, an increasing number of studies have focused on the synergistic effects of LF to broaden its application in the fields of functional food, nutritional supplements, and health care. LF can form complexes with other substances or be modified to enhance its stability and functionality. Additionally, the charge characteristics and cage-like structure of LF enable it to act as a carrier to encapsulate and protect functional ingredients. Furthermore, due to its broad range of receptors, LF can serve as a targeted delivery material for the precise delivery of functional ingredients. New insights into future research trends were also present, which are expected to further expand the utility of LF.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54291,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Food Science","volume":"63 ","pages":"Article 101285"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143592885","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Chen Liu , Danlei Wang , Ivonne MCM Rietjens , Liang Zheng
{"title":"Current and emerging issues in chemical food safety","authors":"Chen Liu , Danlei Wang , Ivonne MCM Rietjens , Liang Zheng","doi":"10.1016/j.cofs.2025.101284","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cofs.2025.101284","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Food safety is increasingly influenced by global challenges, such as climate change, environmental pollution, the shift toward plant-based diets, and new technological developments. This review addresses key issues currently shaping chemical food safety, focusing on natural toxins in plant-based foods, the effects of climate change on food safety, and the role of endogenous compound formation in exposure assessments. The review also discusses the growing concern over per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and nanomaterials and examines advances in risk assessment, particularly the adoption of new approach methodologies (NAMs) and the integration of innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence. These topics underscore the need for updated risk assessment practices and offer insights into how food safety standards and regulations might evolve in response to these emerging challenges.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54291,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Food Science","volume":"62 ","pages":"Article 101284"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143511459","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mengjun Cui , Jie Zhang , Renqiang Yu , Jianqiang Lai , Peng Zhou
{"title":"The chrononutrition of human milk: role of the circadian variation in human milk composition on sleep–wake regulation and brain development of infant","authors":"Mengjun Cui , Jie Zhang , Renqiang Yu , Jianqiang Lai , Peng Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.cofs.2025.101283","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cofs.2025.101283","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Human milk is an extremely complex and dynamic liquid food specifically secreted to meet the nutritional requirements of infants. Beyond confirmed positive effects of breastfeeding on infant and maternal health, there is increasing evidence that human milk as a powerful zeitgeber is conducive to the consolidation of biological clock after birth attribute to the significant differences in some milk bioactives over the day. In this review, we discuss the current state of the field on circadian variation of human milk components and their potential physiological importance for the infant. More research is needed to explore the other potential rhythmic composition in human milk and unveil the mechanisms underlying the links between specific rhythmic components in human milk and sleep–wake cycle and brain development of infant, which will deepen our understanding of the broad functions of human milk.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54291,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Food Science","volume":"62 ","pages":"Article 101283"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143529056","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Bohai Li , Longxiang Ye , Yongfu Chen , Heping Zhang
{"title":"Genomic insights into probiotic metabolism of dietary carbohydrates, proteins, and fats","authors":"Bohai Li , Longxiang Ye , Yongfu Chen , Heping Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.cofs.2024.101241","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cofs.2024.101241","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Probiotics have emerged as a promising approach to modulate gut microbiota and their metabolic functions, particularly by facilitating the production of short-chain fatty acids, bile acids, and indoles. However, detailed insights into the specific genes, enzymes, and biochemical pathways involved are limited. This review elucidates current knowledge on how probiotics and gut microorganisms metabolize dietary carbohydrates, proteins, and fats into bioactive metabolites from a genomic perspective. Additionally, the potential of genetic strategies to enhance the production of beneficial metabolites by probiotics is explored. By targeting and modifying specific genetic elements, it may be possible to optimize the therapeutic potential of probiotics. This review aims to deepen our understanding of underlying probiotic functions and offer new perspectives for developing bioengineered probiotics, paving the way for innovative therapeutic strategies for treating human diseases.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54291,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Food Science","volume":"61 ","pages":"Article 101241"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143135751","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Zuhaili Yusof , Yen Wah Tong , Kumar Selvarajoo , Sheetal Kishor Parakh , Su Chern Foo
{"title":"Overcoming challenges in microalgal bioprocessing through data-driven and computational approaches","authors":"Zuhaili Yusof , Yen Wah Tong , Kumar Selvarajoo , Sheetal Kishor Parakh , Su Chern Foo","doi":"10.1016/j.cofs.2024.101253","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cofs.2024.101253","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microalgae holds significant potential for sustainable food production, presenting challenges and opportunities. This review presents the key obstacles in microalgal bioprocessing, including cultivation methods optimisation, inconsistent biomass yields, high production costs, and stability of valuable compounds during processing. The gap in sustainable aspects of microalgae bioprocessing for food production is highlighted. Integrating omics technologies with microalgal bioprocessing can enhance the understanding of the cultivation process and improve microalgal yield and quality. When combined with advanced computational tools such as machine learning, digital twin technology, and process optimisation techniques, these approaches can significantly accelerate the adoption of circular economy principles in sustainable food production. Open databases and user-friendly software tools can lower learning barriers, encouraging broader microalgae research and development. Through interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation, microalgae can emerge as key players in sustainable food production, driving innovation and efficiency.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54291,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Food Science","volume":"61 ","pages":"Article 101253"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143095939","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Strain-level identification of bacteria persisting in food and in food processing facilities: when do two isolates represent the same strain and which tools identify a strain?","authors":"Vi D Pham, David J Simpson, Michael G Gänzle","doi":"10.1016/j.cofs.2024.101245","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cofs.2024.101245","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Strain-level identification informs decisions on whether two isolates represent the same strain and is used in investigations of outbreaks of foodborne disease. The same concept has only rarely been applied to nonpathogenic microbes in food or food processing facilities. Strain-level monitoring of food microbes requires definitions and tools that have only partially been developed. The review defines the concept of ‘microbial strains’ to guide the tracking of strains in food and food processing facilities. In addition, we discuss whole genome sequencing (WGS) and single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) calling as suitable tools for strain identification. Limitations of WGS and SNP analysis are also examined. Food spoilage causes food waste and fermented foods and probiotic foods are widely consumed. Therefore, strain identification and tracking of the food-associated microbes address a potential approach to eradicate pathogens and spoilage organisms in processing facilities and to ensure the quality of fermented foods and probiotic foods.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54291,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Food Science","volume":"61 ","pages":"Article 101245"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143095940","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Maria Eduarda Marques Soutelino , Ramon da Silva Rocha , Eliane Teixeira Mársico , Erick Almeida Esmerino , Adriana Cristina de Oliveira Silva
{"title":"Innovative approaches to kefir production, challenges, and current remarks","authors":"Maria Eduarda Marques Soutelino , Ramon da Silva Rocha , Eliane Teixeira Mársico , Erick Almeida Esmerino , Adriana Cristina de Oliveira Silva","doi":"10.1016/j.cofs.2024.101252","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cofs.2024.101252","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Kefir, a fermented product with roots in the Caucasus region, has gained increasing attention due to its characteristic sensory attributes, low lactose content, and potential health benefits. This paper explores the recent innovations in kefir production, focusing on adding functional ingredients and applying new processing technologies. Incorporating fruit juices, plant extracts, and essential oils has been found to enhance kefir’s antioxidant and functional properties, while techniques such as spray drying and encapsulation offer opportunities to improve its stability and shelf life. However, it is important to note that these innovations may also impact the viability of beneficial microorganisms in kefir. This review aims to provide valuable insights into the current landscape of kefir innovation, highlighting its potential and the need for further research to address the challenges and limitations associated with these advancements.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54291,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Food Science","volume":"61 ","pages":"Article 101252"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143095985","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}