Improve Food Quality Research Articles

The benefits of informed management of sunlight in production greenhouses and polytunnels

Societal Impact StatementThe effective management of light is beneficial for growers of plants in greenhouses, polytunnels and under cloches. The materials and structures used to construct these environments often create light‐limited conditions for crops and change the spectral composition of sunlight they receive. Combining practical measures, drawn from knowledge of plant photobiology, allows growers to monitor, forecast and optimise conditions in their growing environment according to its geographical location and the crop grown. Improved management of light through these measures could be expected to improve food quality and yield, and potentially reduce use of energy, water and pesticides.SummaryHorticultural production in greenhouses and in polytunnels expands the viable geographic range of many crop species and extends their productive growing season. These semi‐controlled growing environments buffer natural fluctuations in heat, cold and light and hold potential to improve food security with a low environmental footprint. Over the last decade, technological advances in cladding materials, smart filters, photo‐electric cells for energy production and LED lighting have created opportunities to improve the light environment within these structures. In parallel, there have been large advances in plant photobiology, underpinned by progress in identifying the mechanisms of photomorphogenesis and photoprotection, mediated by plant photoreceptors and their interactions, across regions of the spectrum. However, there remains unexploited potential to synthesise and transfer knowledge from these fields to horticulture, particularly with respect to tailoring the use of sunlight to specific locations and production systems. Here, we systematically explain (1) the value of modelling and monitoring patterns of sunlight to allow for informed design of the growth environment; (2) the means of optimising light conditions through selection of materials and structures; (3) the requirements of different crop plants in terms of the amount and spectral composition of light that will benefit yield and food quality; (4) the potential to combine this knowledge for effective management of the sunlight; and, finally, (5) the additional benefits these actions may bring to growers and society at large, beyond the crops themselves, in terms of water use and energy efficiency.

Organic Farming Provides a Blueprint to Improve Food Quality, Safety and Security

The increasing reliance on non-renewable resources (in particular, mineral nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers and synthetic chemical pesticides) to sustain current productivity levels of agriculture are of growing concern, because these inputs have substantial negative environmental impacts and may become too expensive and/or unavailable in the future [...]

IFE & EFE, TOWS and QPSM Analysis of Online Food Delivery Services

Purpose: This study attempts to analyse internal and external factors that favourably lead to increased turnover of Online Food Delivery Services and to offer best strategies that can be implemented based on those indicators, and select the most effective strategy. Design: The study is based on primary and secondary data. Focus group method were employed as primary data source for IFE and EFE analysis followed by TOWS matrix and QSPM analysis and secondary data was obtained by reference to journal papers and books. Findings: The results shows that the company should select the best strategy as improvement in food quality followed by related food diversification. Originality/Value: The paper helps to understand the internal and external factors influencing sales of Online Food Delivery Services by the use of different analysis framework. Type of the Paper: Qualitative Analysis

Determinants of customer satisfaction and behavioral intentions in fast-food restaurants among undergraduate students during the COVID-19 pandemic

The purpose of this study is to explore the effect of a new construct, namely COVID-19 safety, on customer satisfaction and behavioral intentions in the context of fast-food restaurants (FFRs), while accounting for the effect of service quality, perceived value, and food quality. Using an online questionnaire, data was collected from 219 FFR customers. A series of confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to demonstrate the construct validity of this study variables. This study proposed and examined three conceptual models. To test the hypotheses of the three models, structural equation modeling (SEM) technique was employed using Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS) software. This study shows that compliance with COVID-19 safety measures is a key determinant of customer satisfaction and behavioral intentions in the fast-food industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. More importantly, the results reveal that when simultaneously including service quality, perceived value, COVID-19 safety, and food quality as predictors of customer satisfaction and behavioral intentions, only COVID-19 safety and food quality are significant predictors. Managers, owners, and employees of FFRs need to comply with COVID-19 safety measures and improve food quality in order to enhance customer satisfaction and behavioral intentions toward their restaurants. This seminal study examines the determinants of fast-food customer satisfaction and behavioral intentions during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study proposes and validates a new construct for COVID-19 safety in the FFRs.

Fermentation of Cereals and Legumes: Impact on Nutritional Constituents and Nutrient Bioavailability

Fermented food products, especially those derived from cereals and legumes are important contributors to diet diversity globally. These food items are vital to food security and significantly contribute to nutrition. Fermentation is a process that desirably modifies food constituents by increasing the palatability, organoleptic properties, bioavailability and alters nutritional constituents. This review focuses on deciphering possible mechanisms involved in the modification of nutritional constituents as well as nutrient bioavailability during the fermentation of cereals and legumes, especially those commonly consumed in developing countries. Although modifications in these constituents are dependent on inherent and available nutrients in the starting raw material, it was generally observed that fermentation increased these nutritive qualities (protein, amino acids, vitamins, fats, fatty acids, etc.) in cereals and legumes, while in a few instances, a reduction in these constituents was noted. A general reduction trend in antinutritional factors was also observed with a corresponding increase in the nutrient bioavailability and bioaccessibility. Notable mechanisms of modification include transamination or the synthesis of new compounds during the fermentation process, use of nutrients as energy sources, as well as the metabolic activity of microorganisms leading to a degradation or increase in the level of some constituents. A number of fermented products are yet to be studied and fully understood. Further research into these food products using both conventional and modern techniques are still required to provide insights into these important food groups, as well as for an overall improved food quality, enhanced nutrition and health, as well as other associated socioeconomic benefits.

Nano-Strategies for Enhancing the Bioavailability of Tea Polyphenols: Preparation, Applications, and Challenges.

Tea polyphenols (TPs) are among the most abundant functional compounds in tea. They exhibit strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer effects. However, their instability and low bioavailability limits their applications. Nanotechnology, which involves the use of nanoscale substances (sizes ranging from 1 to 100 nm) to improve the properties of substances, provides a solution for enhancing the stability and bioavailability of TPs. We reviewed the preparation, performance, effects, and applications of different types of TPs nanocarriers. First, we introduced the preparation of different nanocarriers, including nanoparticles, nanoemulsions, nanomicelles, and nanolipids. Then, we discussed various applications of tea polyphenol-loaded nanocarriers in functional ingredient delivery, food quality improvement, and active food packaging. Finally, the challenges and future development directions of TPs nanocarriers were elucidated. In conclusion, a nano-strategy may be the “key” to break the application barriers of TPs. Therefore, the use of nano-strategies for the safe, stable, and efficient release of TPs is the direction of future research.

Impacts of low concentrations of nanoplastics on leaf litter decomposition and food quality for detritivores in streams

In forested streams, leaf litter decomposition is a vital ecosystem process, governed primarily by aquatic hyphomycetes. These fungi are crucial mediators of nutrients and energy to invertebrates and higher trophic levels. Very little information is available on the impact of low concentrations of different sizes of nanoplastic particles (NPPs) on leaf litter decomposition and aquatic hyphomycetes communities. Besides, NPPs impact on leaf litter nutritional quality and invertebrate feeding behaviour is unknown. We conducted a microcosm assay with varying concentrations (0–25 μg L-1) of small (100 nm; SNPPs) and large (1000 nm; LNPPs) plastic particles to assess their impact on leaf litter decomposition, sporulation rates and community structure of aquatic hyphomycetes. Furthermore, leaf litter was retrieved and fed to invertebrates to assess feeding rates. Our results indicated that leaf litter decomposition, fungal sporulation and abundance were significantly affected by NPPs concentrations and sizes. By contrast, leaf litter nutritional quality was impacted only by sizes. The NPPs, particularly SNPPs, augmented leaf litter polyunsaturated fatty acids (18–31%), consequently improving food quality; however, invertebrates' feeding rates were not impacted. Overall, our study provides novel insights on the risks posed by NPPs with pronounced impact at the basal trophic level.

Application of High-Intensity Ultrasound to Improve Food Processing Efficiency: A Review.

The use of non-thermal processing technologies has grown in response to an ever-increasing demand for high-quality, convenient meals with natural taste and flavour that are free of chemical additions and preservatives. Food processing plays a crucial role in addressing food security issues by reducing loss and controlling spoilage. Among the several non-thermal processing methods, ultrasound technology has shown to be very beneficial. Ultrasound processing, whether used alone or in combination with other methods, improves food quality significantly and is thus considered beneficial. Cutting, freezing, drying, homogenization, foaming and defoaming, filtration, emulsification, and extraction are just a few of the applications for ultrasound in the food business. Ultrasounds can be used to destroy germs and inactivate enzymes without affecting the quality of the food. As a result, ultrasonography is being hailed as a game-changing processing technique for reducing organoleptic and nutritional waste. This review intends to investigate the underlying principles of ultrasonic generation and to improve understanding of their applications in food processing to make ultrasonic generation a safe, viable, and innovative food processing technology, as well as investigate the technology’s benefits and downsides. The breadth of ultrasound’s application in the industry has also been examined. This will also help researchers and the food sector develop more efficient strategies for frequency-controlled power ultrasound in food processing applications.

From plant biology research to technology transfer and knowledge extension: improving food quality and mitigating environmental impacts

Academic scientists face an unpredictable path from plant biology research to real-life application. Fundamental studies of γ-aminobutyrate and carotenoid metabolism, control of Botrytis infection, and the uptake and distribution of mineral nutrients illustrate that most academic research in plant biology could lead to innovative solutions for food, agriculture, and the environment. The time to application depends on various factors such as the fundamental nature of the scientific questions, the development of enabling technologies, the research priorities of funding agencies, the existence of competitive research, the willingness of researchers to become engaged in commercial activities, and ultimately the insight and creativity of the researchers. Applied research is likely to be adopted more rapidly by industry than basic research, so academic scientists engaged in basic research are less likely to participate in science commercialization. It is argued that the merit of Discovery Grant applications to the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada should not be evaluated for their potential impact on policy and (or) technology. Matching industry funds in Canada rarely support the search for knowledge. Therefore, NSERC Discovery Grants should fund basic research in its entirety.

Milk Quality Improvement with AHP (Analytical Hierarchy Process) Based on SCOR (Supply Chain Operation References) Performance and Business Canvas Model in Giri Tani Milk Cooperative

KUD Giri Tani has faced varying quality of milk, resulting in several times rejection of milk by the industry. The programs that have been running are unable to provide the same quality milk. This research aims to prioritize programs that will be implemented by the top management of KUD Giri Tani. This research uses SCOR reference and Business Canvas Model to investigate proper improvement methods. The weighting level 1 shows that the top 3 significantly affect milk quality such as production, milk supply from farmers, and delivery. The weighting calculation for core activity shows that Plan Reliability (0.0439), Source Reliability (0.0825), Makes Effectivity (0.1513), Delivery Reliability (0.1160), and Return Reliability (0.0513) are the most significant weights of each criterion. The result shows that improving food quality is the highest score (0.393) followed by improvement hygiene (0.386) and milk grading process (0.221). The Farmer members can focus on those two things to improve the quality of milk produced. Those programs are appropriate to analyze the Business Canvas Model.

Rehabilitation Program for Typhoon Pablo Victims: A Case of the Province of Davao del Norte

This case study aimed to determine the rehabilitation program for typhoon Pablo victims in the province of Davao del Norte. Using the purposive sampling technique, twelve (12) informants were interviewed in three (3) municipalities, namely the municipality of Kapalong, San Isidro, and Talaingod, Davao del Norte covering three (3) commodities such as; banana, cacao, and coffee rehabilitation program. A qualitative research instrument was used to capture all data relevant to their experiences, challenges, and overcoming strategies. Thematic analysis by Creswell (2009) was employed to analyze the data. Under the experiences, the result revealed the following themes; living comfortably after the typhoon, damaged farmlands and crops, income loss in agriculture, generation of alternative income and employment, the existence of disaster resiliency and management, provision of inputs, and cash assistance and implementation of the rehabilitation program. Furthermore, the challenges experienced by the victims are climate change, market instability, financial incapacity, lack of information and education, low-quality seedlings and high cost of production, lack of crop insurance, and delayed distribution of seedlings. The overcoming strategies they identified were as follows; develop a positive attitude toward family welfare, develop ways for sustainable farming, availing of the loan program, and intensify coordination for assistance. Finally, the success stories revealed the following cluster; development of self-reliance and perseverance, recovery as a result of hard work and assistance, development of a positive outlook for the future, and government response helped to expedite rehabilitation. The implementation of the typhoon Pablo rehabilitation program must couple with appropriate policy frameworks and political and financial support for the farmers to bridge the gap. Thus, creating a sustainable agricultural program and planning a disaster response will benefit the farmers in the long term. Farmers, scientists, and institutions continually aim to uncover techniques that boost crop yields, improve agricultural productivity, minimize loss due to disease, insects, and disasters, create more efficient equipment, and improve food quality overall. Lastly, the Department of Agriculture, Local Government Units, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Non-government Organizations, and other concerned agencies can help the farmers live a decent life by providing appropriate intervention and assistance that promote the interests and needs of the agricultural sector.

Economic analysis of sustainable farming method in Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh, India

Himachal Pradesh is a mountainous province of India situated in the Himalaya region, Himalayan region has rich biodiversity and is an economically important region of India. Most of the population in this region lives in rural areas and livelihood mainly depend upon agriculture, whereas most of the farmers are small and marginal, such as 89 per cent population of Himachal Pradesh lives in rural area and 87 per cent of farmers are marginal and small also 65 per cent of the workforce of the total population are involved in agricultural allied sectors. For the development of agriculture and rural economy an initiative has been taken to promote sustainable agricultural practices in Himachal Pradesh by promotion for natural farming. The current study was conducted in Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh, with a sample of 60 farmers using simple random sampling. The study mainly focused on the NF cropping system, which claims to contribute to sustainable agriculture (Agro ecology) in many ways i.e., climate resilient farming, livestock friendly, soil health, healthy nutritious food, chemical free farming and sustainable farming. NF is also reported as the most cost-effective farming and also known as “Zero Budget Natural Farming.” NF focuses mainly on lowering agricultural costs, improving food quality, chemical-free food, soil fertility and food & nutritional security. As a result, it is essential to determine the economic evaluation of crop production in terms of Natural Farming and Chemical Farming techniques in order to enable farmers to embrace sustainable farming. Therefore, the comparative economics of Natural Farming and Chemical Farming (Conventional Farming) and resource use efficiency were analysed. From the sample study, it has been found that the major crops grown under NF crop combination were Cereals-Pulses-Vegetables (Kharif 14% and Rabi 157%), Cereals-Vegetables (Kharif 25% and Rabi 14%), Vegetables (107%), Sugarcane-Vegetables-Turmeric (92%) and Cereals-Vegetables-Oil (124%) had high Crop Equivalent Yield (CEY) as compared to CF crops also NF Farmers received high returns per hectare. NF farmers were using resources very efficiently, which indicates that there is still a possibility of a rise in income from the adoption of natural farming through the use of own capital and a stronger marketing method. It can be concluded that cultivation by natural farming methods has been found to be productive.

Industrial agglomeration and product quality improvement of food enterprises: empirical analysis based on data from Chinese enterprises

This study utilized data on dairy enterprises, which are representative of China's food industry, to investigate the relationships and mechanisms between industrial agglomeration and the product quality of food enterprises. The results show that industrial agglomeration significantly improves the product quality of Chinese food enterprises. In general, the economic effect of China's food industry agglomeration is greater than that of excessive competition. The heterogeneity analysis showed that industrial agglomeration plays a more important role in promoting the product quality of non-state-owned enterprises and food enterprises in the eastern region than in state-owned enterprises and the central and western regions. Further mechanistic analysis showed that industrial agglomeration promotes food quality improvement by improving enterprise productivity and fixed cost input efficiency. Therefore, this study confirms that industrial agglomeration can be used as an external driving force for China's food quality improvement. On the basis of market mechanisms, through the guidance of the macro policy of industrial agglomeration, the external economies of the scale effect of agglomeration are of great significance for helping the food industry become high quality and high end.

Development of a machine learning-based predictor for identifying and discovering antioxidant peptides based on a new strategy

It is necessary to solve the problem of food corruption and oxidation to improve food quality. Peptides are a good candidate to solve the above problems. In this paper, a machine learning method was used to construct an antioxidant peptide classification model based on the pseudo-amino acid composition and motifs of peptides as input features. The AUC of PseAAC-dipeptide-motif hybrid model is 0.939 and the average precision score is 0.947, which is the best among all models in this paper. Besides, the classification threshold has been increased to make the model precision above 0.95. Then, the model was used as predictor to discover potential antioxidant peptides from a random peptide dataset. According to the predicted results, 5 potential antioxidant peptides (PSGK, LKPQ, GRP, QCQ, QGM) were synthesized to determine their DPPH radical-scavenging activity and the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC). The experimental results show that QCQ has strong antioxidant properties, its T-AOC value is 9.59U/mg prot, and the DPPH scavenging activity is 95.52% at concentration of 125 μg/mL. Meantime, the predictor can be used to mine multifunctional peptides with antioxidant function. In general, the predictor is an effective tool for discovering peptides with antioxidant function. • A machine learning-based predictor was developed for virtual screening antioxidant. • Peptides of unknown function can be quickly identified whether they have antioxidant properties. • Multifunctional peptides with antioxidant function were quickly discovered based on a new strategy. • A low-cost and not time-consuming method for discovering antioxidant peptides.

Antimicrobial Activity of Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated from Traditional Fermented Food

Objective: The main objective is to isolate Lactic acid bacteria from traditional fermented food of Kathmandu valley and to study their antimicrobial properties by agar well diffusion method. Methods: A total of 30 samples of 4 different types of traditional fermented food (Gundruk and sinki, Pickles and Dahi) were obtained from Kathmandu valley and processed in Microbiology Laboratory of Padma Kanya Multiple Campus. For identification of Lactic acid bacteria (LAB), Gram staining, catalase and motile tests were done. In the carbohydrate fermentation test, all isolates were processed for fermentation of glucose, lactose, sucrose and fructose. Bacteriocin was extracted by precipitation method. Antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates was determined by using modified Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. The antimicrobial activity of Lactic acid bacterial (LAB) was done by agar well diffusion method. Results: A total of 21 LAB isolates were identified which were 10 Lactobacillus spp (47.6%), 8 Pediococcus spp (38.0%) and 3 Streptococcus spp (14.3%). The antimicrobial activity of bacteriocin showed inhibitory activity against Shigella spp, Escherichia coli and Bacillus spp but did not show inhibition to Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp. and Klebsiella pneumoniae. For the quality control, the antimicrobial activity of bacteriocin was done on ATCC (25923) Staphylococcus aureus. All isolates were susceptible to ampicillin while resistant to nalidixic acid and Co-trimoxazole. Conclusion: The present study showed the bacteriocin produced by LAB from traditional fermented food (Gundruk and Sinki, yogurt and Pickle) showed antimicrobial activity against different bacteria which underline its important role in improving food quality and increasing safety.

Exploring the Relationship Between Nutrition and Academic Learning among Students of Samtse College of Education

The study was conducted to explore the existence of relationship between the academic learning of college students and their nutritional diets receive from the college mess. The data was collected through a Student Food Survey (SFS) (N =135) and structured interview (N = 6) among college students who had the lived experience of having meals from the college mess. The survey data was analyzed for descriptive and correlational analysis using SPSS. Similarly, the interviews were transcribed and analyzed into three major themes: food quality, eating practices, and recommendations. The data revealed that food quality and nutritional diets served in the mess affect students’ eating habits and their academic learning. Further, the findings from survey indicate a significant positive correlation between food quality and academic learning of students. The study concluded by stating that nutritional deficiencies contribute to lack of academic concentration and therefore, recommends the college management devise strategic interventions to improve food quality in the mess.

A COMPREHENSIVE NOTE ON TRICHODERMA AS A POTENTIAL BIOCONTROL AGENT AGAINST SOIL BORNE FUNGAL PATHOGENS: A REVIEW

The extensive use of synthetic pesticides has a harmful impact on the environment, plants and animal health. It is a big challenge for all farming systems to develop novel approaches, which are eco-friendly and improve food quality. As compared to synthetic pesticides, the use of beneficial microbes is the best option to maintain the environmental condition because they are cost-effective and ecofriendly. In the recent era, biological antagonistic microorganisms (Trichoderma spp.) are the best approach to control the soil-borne fungal pathogens associated with plant roots of agriculturally important crops. Due to fast growth and rhizospheric colonization ability, this fungus competes with other pathogenic soil-borne fungi by producing different metabolites (volatile and non-volatile). Trichoderma protected the plants from pathogenic fungi through mycoparasitic and antibiosis capability. Furthermore, it has the ability to improve plant health by inducing SAR (Systemic acquired resistance), ISR (Induce systemic resistance), producing antifungal enzymes (α-1, 3-glucanases, Trichodermaketone, and trichodermin) and antioxidant enzymes that strengthen the immune system by increasing activities of guaiacol peroxidase (GPX), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) after pathogen attack. Development of bio-fungicide formulation by using the spore of Trichoderma species (T. harzianum, T. viride, and T. virens) are most effective against soil-borne pathogenic fungi at different concentrations and temperatures. This review article has significantly focused on gathering and summarizing the most recent literature to highlight the visible production and application of Trichoderma as a biomonitoring and biocontrol agent in plant diseases management program.

Influence of Multifrequency Ultrasound-Assisted Freezing on the Flavour Attributes and Myofibrillar Protein Characteristics of Cultured Large Yellow Croaker (Larimichthys crocea).

The influence of multifrequency ultrasound-assisted freezing (UAF) as compared with single- and dual-UAF on the flavour, microstructure, and myofibrillar proteins (MPs) of cultured large yellow croaker was investigated to improve food quality in a sustainable way and address the major global challenges concerning food and nutrition security in the (near) future. Multifrequency UAF-treated samples had lower total volatile basic nitrogen values during freezing than single- and dual-UAF-treated samples. Thirty-six volatile compounds were identified by solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled to gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) during freezing, and the multifrequency UAF-treated samples showed significant decreases in the relative contents of fishy flavoured compounds, including 1-penten-3-ol and 1-octen-3-ol. In addition, multifrequency UAF treatment better maintained a well-organised protein secondary structure by maintaining higher α-helical and β-sheet contents and stabilising the tertiary structure. Scanning electron microscopy images indicated that the ice crystals developed by the multifrequency UAF were fine and uniformly distributed, resulting in less damage to the frozen large yellow croaker samples. Therefore, multifrequency UAF improved the flavour attributes and MP characteristics of the large yellow croaker samples. Overall, multifrequency UAF can serve as an efficient way for improving food quality and nutritional profile in a sustainable way.

Statistical Model for Predicting Salinity of Water at Doho 1 Irrigation Scheme in Busia.

The concentration of salts in water or salt affects crop yields to a good extent. Irrigation salinity can be controlled by various methods including modelling. Therefore, this study aimed at designing a model for predicting the salinity of the water at the Doho Irrigation Scheme in Butaleja district, eastern Uganda for better rice growing. This study used the different water chemical parameters from the different sites of the scheme, where water samples were collected and measured in the laboratory. A multivariate regression method was used to model water salinity through the Electrical Conductivity as the dependent variable and other water chemical parameters like potassium (K), Sodium (Na), pH and Calcium (Ca) were used as independent variables. A non-linear statistical model was derived from the chemical results of the irrigation scheme, presented and validated by applying it on the water samples that were not used during the design of the model. The model measured salinity levels and can be used to determine which water chemical levels are good for rice growing in Doho and other similar situations. Hence, the model can be used to improve food quality and quantity as required in the food production goal

Integrated Soil and Crop Management in Organic Agriculture: A Logical Framework to Ensure Food Quality and Human Health?

The environmental and biodiversity benefits of organic farming are widely recognized, but there is still controversy about the effects of organic production methods on the nutritional composition of food and human health. In the first part of this article therefore, we critically review the evidence that organic farming methods improve the nutritional quality of food crops. Moreover, we summarize our current understanding of how quality gains are linked to the implementation of the “innovations” introduced into conventional crop production during the intensification or “green revolution” of agriculture over the last 100 years. In the second part of the article, we critically review the evidence for the range of health benefits related to organic food consumption. Specifically, we describe and discuss the results from: (i) dietary intervention studies which have found that organic food consumption substantially reduces pesticide exposure in humans and affects feed intake, growth, hormone balances and immune system responsiveness in animal models; (ii) human cohort/epidemiological studies which have reported significant positive associations between organic food consumption and the lower incidence of a range of diseases including obesity, metabolic syndrome, cancer, hypospadias, pre-eclampsia, eczema and middle ear infections in infants; (iii) interactions and trade-offs between diet (e.g., whole-grain, fruit and vegetables and reduced red-meat consumption) and food types (organic versus conventional) concerning public health and future food security. The article also identifies knowledge gaps and highlights the need for (i) long-term, factorial field experiments to understand the relative effects of agronomic and pedoclimatic drivers on crop quality and safety, and (ii) clinical trials and additional human cohort studies to confirm the positive health outcomes linked to organic food consumption. The main conclusions from our review are that there is growing evidence that (i) agricultural intensification has resulted in a reduction in the nutritional quality of food and the sustainability of food production, and (ii) organic farming practices not only improve food quality and human health, but also food security. This is particularly true where current nutritional guidelines (increasing whole-grain, fruit and vegetable products, while reducing red-meat consumption) are implemented.