Background: Since 2015, food insecurity has been a more serious threat than the previous years with a record high observed from the year 2020 onwards, especially in developing countries. This record could be due to response measures, notably the closure of borders due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This implies that trade openness have played an important role in achieving food security in the world. However, the debate on the effect of trade openness on food security remains no consensus in the economic literature. It is in this context that this paper aims to re-examine the effect of trade openness on food security in sub-Saharan African countries. Methods: Panel data covering 37 Sub-Saharan African countries over the period from 2004 to 2018 were mobilized. We use a dynamic empirical model based on the system Generalized Method of Moment (GMM) to control the unobserved heterogeneity and potential endogeneity of the explanatory variables. As food security is a multidimensional concept, we used four indicators (“average dietary energy supply adequacy”, “average protein supply”, “per capita food supply variability”, and “share of dietary energy supply”) to capture food security. To improve the robustness of the empirical effect of openness on food security, we also used globalization as an alternative factor to trade openness. Results: The empirical results show that trade openness significantly improves food security in 37 Sub-Saharan African countries. However, in the presence of political instability, a deterioration of the food security situation is observed. The results reveal also that the quality of institutions, economic growth, remittances, human capital, and the importance of the agricultural sector are also factors favouring the level of food security in sub-Saharan Africa countries. Conclusion: Any policy aimed at trade openness must consider the quality of institutions to achieve the expected results.

The “miracle tree,” Moringa oleifera , has gained so much attention because of its spectacular nutritional profile and potential health benefits, making it one of the candidates for functional food product creation. The health benefits of M. oleifera are presented here in this review alongside its antioxidant conformation, bioactive constituents, and macro‐ and micronutrient conformation. Moringa is rapidly becoming a key and effective component in formulating healthy foodstuffs because of its outstanding anti‐inflammatory, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antioxidant, and neuroprotective activities. Investigation into the usage of moringa products in functional foods like dairy substitutes, powders, supplements, drinks, and even snacks is also part of the review. Notwithstanding the auspicious benefits, there are also contests with product development such as issues with sensory perception, active ingredient constancy, and budget constraints. Maintainable plant‐based and healthy food demand across the sphere is pushing the novelty in the moringa industry. To improve the current contests and the scalability and suitability of moringa‐based functional foods, this review concludes with a call for additional investigation.

Carotenoids are a broad category of biologically active pigments in plants and animals with significant health associations, including immune‐modulatory, anti‐inflammatory, and antioxidant roles. They persuade prevention of illness through numerous mechanisms such as protection against oxidative stress, encouragement of cardiovascular and neuroprotective events, and reduction of diseases comprising cancer and macular degeneration. Carotenoids have several health benefits but are unstable, with low bioavailability, and easily degrade in environments containing light, heat, and oxygen. Since the encapsulation improves carotenoid solubility, stability, and controlled release, it has become a feasible strategy for overcoming these issues. This review considers a few encapsulation methods, including electrospinning, lipid‐based delivery systems, spray drying, freeze drying, and supercritical fluid technology. Each of these methods is assessed in terms of their ability to retain carotenoids, improve bioavailability, and deliver targeted distribution. Evaluation of these methods has been made with the view of benefits, drawbacks, and suitability for industrial use. In conclusion, the analysis identifies current challenges in carotenoid encapsulation and potential future investigation and innovation directions in this area to exploit carotenoid‐based functional foods, nutraceuticals, and medications.

Postharvest diseases, driven by necrotrophic fungi such as Botrytis cinerea , Penicillium digitatum , and Rhizopus stolonifer , pose a significant threat to global fruit and vegetable supply chains, resulting in annual losses of 20%–40% and economic impacts exceeding $10 billion. This review critically evaluates innovative, sustainable strategies for biological control, nanotechnology, edible coatings, and plant growth regulators (PGRs) to mitigate these losses, emphasizing their mechanisms and efficacy. Biological agents like Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and Pseudomonas fluorescens reduce disease incidence by 60%–85% through volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nutrient competition. In comparison, selenium‐chitosan nanoparticles (Se‐ChNPs) achieve a 92% inhibition of B. cinerea in grapes via ROS induction and cell wall disruption. Chitosan and alginate‐based edible coatings prevent decay by creating physical barriers and increasing host enzymes: SOD by 68%; PGRs SA and MT trigger enhanced PAL and PR genes and reduce the disease by 55%–80%. Integration augments all these effects, and Se‐ChNPs and cold storage give a synergy ratio of 76%–94% because of multiple target suppression and host defense potentiation. However, there are some limitations which are as follows: During the use of Se‐ChNPs, cost plays a critical role; specifically for the efficacy of Se‐ChNPs, they work well on grapes only; in terms of regulation of residues, they do not have the proper regulation for the nanoparticles; but to balance all these critical issues, biosensors and protocols should be used for the crops. This process critically compares the different strategies, reviews their successes and faults for each crop, looks into contrasting findings, and highlights major areas that need further study, such as applying them to vegetables and dealing with regulations. Priorities for future research include developing low‐cost solutions and testing a wide range of crops to improve the sustainability of postharvest management and meet the demands of the global food supply.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide and a major public health issue. According to recent World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, CVD causes approximately 17.9 million deaths annually, accounting for 32% of global mortality. Prevention strategies that are dependent on dietary and lifestyle changes are becoming increasingly popular despite advances in pharmaceutical treatments. There has been a growing interest in phytochemicals and bioactive compounds in plants, as well as their potential to aid cardiovascular health and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. However, there is no comprehensive synthesis of their mechanisms, clinical relevance, and bioavailability. This review attempted to fill this gap by evaluating the therapeutic value of phytochemicals for the prevention and management of CVD. Dietary sources and classifications of cardioprotective phytochemicals, including phytosterols, carotenoids, alkaloids, and polyphenols, are extensively discussed in this review. The article goes in‐depth on how they act through many different functions, such as antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, lipid‐modulating, and endothelial‐protective activities. Beyond describing the relationship between phytochemicals and broader dietary trends and lifestyle patterns, this article addresses their influences on bioavailability, including food matrix effects and gut microbiota. This review highlights the therapeutic significance of phytochemicals and their possible incorporation into standard treatments based on epidemiological, clinical, and mechanistic studies. Finally, this highlighted the need for future studies to fully exploit phytochemicals in the prevention and treatment of CVD, as well as the current issues in this regard.

The rising demand for eco-friendly food packaging has highlighted edible films and coatings as key tools for extending shelf life and ensuring food safety. This review focuses on biopolymer-based coatings and films, emphasising polysaccharides, proteins, lipids, and composites in preserving food freshness and quality. Natural additives, such as vegetable extracts and essential oils, have been shown to prolong the shelf life of fruits and vegetables by over 2 weeks and inhibit microbial growth in perishable foods. Application methods like dipping, spraying, and extrusion influence the efficiency of product preservation. With over one billion tons of food wasted annually and nearly 79% of plastic ending up in landfills, sustainable alternatives are urgent. Edible packaging offers a green solution, but challenges remain in mechanical strength, industrial scalability, and consumer acceptance. Addressing these will enable the transition from research to large-scale, sustainable applications, supporting environmental protection and global food security.