SUSTAINABLE APPROACHES IN POSTHARVEST HANDLING AND MANAGEMENT (HB 2026)

With the rise in population and an increase in endemic diseases, food that is fresh, healthy, affordable, and safe is the need of the hour. Effective postharvest handling and management that emphasizes quality retainment of produce ensures this. This new book, Sustainable Approaches in Postharvest Handling and Management, presents new research on sustainable postharvest handling and management techniques for fresh produce with quality, safety, and self-life extension.

This volume provides a thorough review of sustainable postharvest methods, along with information on the newest techniques, inventions, and technologies that can reduce food waste and loss while maintaining the freshness and nutritional content of produce. The book discusses a wide range of topics on sustainable postharvest methods such as irradiation, ozone, cold plasma, electrolyzed water, etc. A chapter on the use of edible coatings for shelf-life extension of fresh produce is presented. Quality detection through non-destructive techniques and electronic nose is also included. The book also covers novel advances such as the integration of blockchain and the Internet of Things (IoT) in the fresh food supply chain to regain public trust by improving transparency and real-time visibility. The socioeconomic and environmental impacts of postharvest losses are addressed as well.

The volume also considers the rising energy demands of developing countries and presents information on reducing fossil energy consumption and improving product quality through the use of sustainable energy as the primary or supplemental energy for postharvest operations, which could lessen the environmental effect of these activities.

This book will serve as a valuable resource for researchers, students, farmers, food processors, and policymakers who are committed to building a more sustainable and equitable food system. The editors believe that by working together, we can create a future where fresh produce is accessible to all and its production and consumption have a minimal negative impact on the environment.

Pankaj Pathare, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Postharvest Technology at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), Oman. Before joining SQU, he worked as a researcher at Newcastle University, UK, and Stellenbosch University, South Africa. His research interests encompass a wide range of topics, including quantification of postharvest losses, mechanical damage of perishables, food granulation, food drying and cooling, structural design for ventilated corrugated packaging, renewable energy in food, and energy efficient production processes in SME the food and beverage industry. His research results have been well-documented in over 87 scientific papers published in international peer-reviewed journals and several conference presentations. He also worked as supervisor/co-supervisor for 16 postgraduate research students. According to the Scopus, his h-index is 24; citations: 4200. He was recognized among World’s Top 2% scientist, published by Stanford University, USA, in 2022, 2023, and 2024. He is a member of the editorial boards for several research journals, including PLoS ONE, Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, Journal of Food Quality, Open Agriculture, Measurement: Food and Discover Food. Dr. Pathare graduated with a BTech degree (Agricultural Engineering) from Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola, India, and PhD (Process & Chemical Engineering) from the University College Cork, Ireland.