In response to increasing concerns over food waste and safety, and the environmental impacts of traditional conservation methods, this review aims to explore the potential of bio-coatings in preserving the freshness of fruits and vegetables. Our primary objective is to provide a comprehensive analysis of recent advancements in bio-coating technologies, detailing their benefits in terms of enhancing food safety, prolonging shelf life, and reducing waste. This paper delves into various forms of bio-coatings, their applications, and their effectiveness in maintaining post-harvest quality. We further elucidate the underlying mechanisms that govern their preservation efficacy. This review is intended for researchers, industry professionals, and policy makers who are interested in sustainable preservation alternatives and their implications for food security and environmental sustainability. By the end of this review, the audience will gain a thorough understanding of the current state of bio-coating technology and its prospects in the food preservation industry.

Adding compost to the soil is an ecological and economical approach to providing the nutrients needed to support crops, improve soil characteristics, and increase the orchard’s durability. Over three years, at the Research Institute for Fruit Growing Pitesti, Romania, data regarding the influence of fertilization with municipal sludge and vegetal origin compost (MSVOC, 20 and 40 t ha⁻¹ doses) and vegetal origin compost (VOC, 30 and 40 t ha⁻¹ doses) on berry quality at ‘Jonker Van Tets’ red currant cv. Were recorded. Berry dry matter, soluble solids, sugar, titratable acidity, vitamin C, phenolic, and anthocyanin content are discussed. The correlations between berry quality indicators with climatic factors (temperatures and sunshine hours) and soil chemical characteristics are discussed. Strong correlations have been identified between anthocyanins, vitamin C, and phenolics with average temperature, maximum temperature, and sunshine hours in April. Except for Fe and Mn, berry phenolics were negatively correlated with all other soil quality indicators. In the third after the application, the results indicated that VOC 40 t ha⁻¹ had a beneficial effect, increasing berry weight, and TTA, while VOC 30 t ha⁻¹ significantly increased DW, TTA, and vitamin C content. Therefore, vegetal origin compost can be used as fertilizer in the sustainable growth of red currants.

Introduction: This paper presents the preliminary results of a study that aims to emphasize the compost effect, when used as fertilizer, in Aronia melanocarpa crops