Food processing methods techniques and trends

Green technology is defined by the global collaborative encyclopedia, Wikipedia, as вЂњthe application of one or more of environmental science, green chemistry, environmental monitoring and electronic devices to monitor, model and conserve the natural environment and resources, and to curb the negative impacts of human involvementвЂќ ( ). Increasing use of organic inputs in processing, use of recyclable and good-for-the-environment packaging, establishing of just employerвЂ“employee relationships, вЂњbuy local,вЂќ вЂњwhole foods,вЂќ вЂњfree-from,вЂќ and вЂњfair-tradeвЂќ are examples of some of these trends. Growing awareness of these challenges is causing social shifts with some stakeholders including farmers, food manufacturers, consumers, and policy makers, desiring more efficient approaches in agricultural and food production practices. ДЄmong some of the more serious environmental concerns we face are land use change and extensive reduction in biodiversity, aquatic eutrophication by nitrogenous substances caused by over-fertilization, global warming caused by enteric fermentation and use of fossil fuels, aquatic eutrophication by phosphorous substances caused by fertilizers overuse, water shortages due to irrigation, ecotoxicity, and human effects of pesticides.

And even more startling is the estimate that currently 30вЂ“50В % of food produced is wasted.

At the same time, most land and aquatic resources are overused. Food supply shortages have left 3 billion people malnourished globally with iron deficiency affecting 2 billion people and protein/calorie deficiencies affecting nearly 800 million people. Since the industrial revolution, worldwide food production has increased significantly but at a slower pace than global population and with much more waste and less efficient resource distribution. Our ability to meet growing demands for food supplies will, thus, hinge on the sustainability of the practices used in food production and the fervor with which novel processes and technologies are developed to address ever-changing and conflicting pressures. To do this successfully will require that we produce more food with much less impact on our environment. Adequate supplies of healthy, nutritious food will be needed to maintain global socioeconomic viability. In 2050, the population of the world is expected to reach 9 billion FAOSTAT. At the same time, changes to climate and population health have made evident the precarious balance between sustainable food production practices, a healthy environment, and a healthy population. Industrialization shifted a large percentage of the population toward a myriad of activities creating the need for an industrialized food sector to feed an increasing number of urbanized humans.Д«urgeoning population growth in the last several centuries with the attendant demands resulting from industrialization has made the need for sustainable food production and processing technologies even more important. As populations grew, limitations in food processing and storage techniques forced more individuals to devote considerable amounts of time daily to feeding themselves and their families (i.e., harvesting and hunting).

In earlier times when human population was much smaller, resources were abundant and there was less need for food processing and storage. Since the beginning of time, humans have had to eat to survive. This review summarizes key highlights from the recently published book entitled Green Technologies in Food Production and Processing which provides a comprehensive summary of the current status of the agriculture and agri-food sectors in regard to environmental sustainability and material and energy stewardship and further provides strategies that can be used by industries to enhance the use of environmentally friendly technologies for food production and processing.ДЇood is an integral component of life and human existence. Environmental concerns related to food production and processing which require consideration include land use change and tremendous reduction in biodiversity, aquatic eutrophication by nitrogenous and phosphorus substances caused by over-fertilization, climate change, water shortages due to irrigation, ecotoxicity, and human effects of pesticides, among others. This need is expected to increase in the next half century when the population of the world exceeds 9 billion. Global population growth in the last several centuries with the attendant demands resulting from industrialization has made the need for food production and processing an important issue. Finding a balance between food supply and demand in a manner that is sustainable and which ensures the long-term survival of the human species will be one of the most important challenges for humankind in the coming decades.

Food processing methods techniques and trends