Antimicrobial Strategies in the Food System: Updates, Opportunities, Challenges

In 2023, world hunger and food insecurity looms as present as ever. The threat of foodborne illness is also alive and well, as 1 in 10 people fall ill each year from the consumption of contaminated food. Meanwhile, thirty percent of all the food produced on our planet is lost or wasted, due in large part to spoilage. In the face of these realities, as well as those of climate change, population growth, ecosystem degradation and increasing resource scarcity, the dire need for a more sustainable global food system can no longer be ignored. Consumers are not only more invested in sustainability than ever, but also more health conscious. Recent years have thus seen a proliferation of alternative antimicrobial strategies, all aiming to mitigate the risks inherent in developing new production systems while striving for longer-lasting food products.
Antimicrobial Strategies in the Food System: Updates, Opportunities, Challenges elucidates the established methods of this rapidly evolving field and introduces cutting-edge technologies such as urban/indoor agriculture. With an emphasis on detailing each step in the chain of food production, the text demonstrates how safety begins with primary production, from agriculture to aquaculture, and remains paramount through to packaging and handling. Developing informed and updated definitions of the terms “natural” and “sustainable,” this book addresses the fragilities of the current food system and establishes possibilities for future research and practice.

Dr. Dan Li earned her Ph.D. in Applied Biological Science from Ghent University, Belgium, in 2012. She is currently a tenure-track faculty member in the Department of Food Science and Technology at the National University of Singapore (NUS). Her research covers several topics on food microbiology and food safety. One of her research focuses is the microbial safety and antimicrobial solutions in the sustainable transitions of the food system, including urban hydroponic farming, cultivated meat, and food by-product utilization.