The preservation of food has a long history dating back thousands of years. One of the earliest methods of food preservation was drying, which involves removing the moisture from food to prevent bacterial growth and spoilage. Throughout the course of time, numerous other preservation methods arose. The specific origins of these preservation techniques are challenging to pinpoint precisely, as they likely developed independently in different regions and cultures.
Why is preservation of food important?
The answer is actually quite obvious. Without food preservation, the world would face a much higher rate of food spoilage. Increased food spoilage due to lack of preservation would put additional strain on natural resources, including water, energy, and land used for agriculture. This could lead to further environmental degradation and resource depletion.
Related to food spoilage, food shortage is also taken on by preservation. During periods of low agricultural output or seasonal variations, fresh products might not be available. Without preservation methods, access to certain food items would be restricted to specific seasons, leading to potential food shortages during the off-seasons.
Looking at the global food trade, preservation plays an important role. The global food trade heavily relies on food preservation methods to transport goods over long distances. Without these preservation methods, the variety of foods available in different regions would diminish, leading to a more limited diet for many populations. Overall, food preservation plays a vital role in ensuring food availability, safety, and sustainability for individuals, communities, and nations.
Development of preservation methods
Most preservation methods are thousands of years old. Luckily, there are innovations within the field of preservation happening at the moment. With the NanoPEF technology, the food industry has a new way of preserving food at its disposal. With NanoPEF, you are not only extending the shelf life of products but also able to retain the quality of the product, its colour, texture, and taste. Besides that, NanoPEF is a very eco-friendly technology relative to other preservation methods.
Curious about the possibilities of NanoPEF within your company? You can contact us at info@pef-technologies.nl
Read more about the food industry
- Will the thriving Dutch dairy industry have what it takes to overcome the challenges ahead?
https://pef-technologies.nl/will-the-thriving-dutch-dairy-industry-have-what-it-takes-to-overcome-the-challenges-ahead/ - NanoPEF: Innovation that changes the way we preserve our food!
https://pef-technologies.nl/nanopef-innovation-that-changes-the-way-we-preserve-our-food/ - The NIZO Startup Day, accelerating innovation within the food industry:
https://pef-technologies.nl/the-nizo-startup-day-accelerating-innovation-within-the-food-industry/