Although chemical engineering and food technology are subject areas closely related to food processing systems and food plant design, coverage of the design of food plants is often sporadic and inadequately addressed in food technology and engineering books. Some books have attempted to treat food engineering from this dual point of view but, most have not achieved balanced coverage of the two. Focusing on food processing, rather than chemical plants, Food Plant Design presents precise design details with photos and drawings of different types of food processing plants, including food processing systems, refrigeration and steam systems, conveying systems, and buildings. The authors discuss the subject in an ordered format that gives you the tools to produce food products with minimum cost. Including modeling procedures for food processing systems and auxiliary systems, they elucidate synthesis techniques and procedures. Using a clear structure for different levels of information and data on different food processing alternatives, the book outlines solutions to plant design problems in the context of overall optimization of an agro-industrial system and corresponding food chain. It provides the work procedures and techniques for solving the design problems of a food processing plant and in making a defined food product.

Although nanotechnology has revolutionized fields such as medicine, genetics, biology, bioengineering, mechanics, and chemistry, its increasing application in the food industry is relatively recent in comparison. Nanotechnology is being used to discover new methods for creating new flavors, extending food shelf life, and improving food protection and nutritional value. Nanotechnology in the food industry is now being explored for intelligent nutrient delivery systems, "smart" foods, contaminant detection nanodevices and nanosensors, advanced food processing, antimicrobial chemicals, encapsulation, and green nanomaterials. This new three-volume set, Nanotechnology Horizons in Food Process Engineering, addresses a multitude of topical issues and new developments in the field. Volume 1 focuses food preservation, food packaging and sustainable agriculture, while Volume 2 looks at nanotechnology in food process engineering, applications of biomaterials in food products, and the use of modern nanotechnology for human health. The third volume explores the newest trends in nanotechnology for food applications and their application for improving food delivery systems. Together, these three volumes provide a comprehensive and in-depth look at the emerging status of nanotechnology in the food processing industry, explaining the benefits and drawbacks of various methodologies that will aid in the improvement and development of food product sourcing and food hygiene monitoring methods. Volume 2 discusses nanotechnology use in non-thermal techniques such as high-pressure processing (HPP), pulsed electric fields (PEFs), pulsed light, ultraviolet, microwave, ohmic heating, electrospinning, and nano- and microencapsulation. This volume looks at the role and application of minimal processing techniques such as ozone treatment, vacuum drying, osmotic dehydration, dense phase carbon dioxide treatment, and high-pressure assisted freezing. The successful applications of nanotechnologies on juices, meat and fish, fruits and vegetable slices, food surface, purees, milk and milk products, extraction, drying enhancement, and encapsulation of micro-macro nutrients are also considered. The volume also presents several computer-aided techniques that are emerging in the food processing sector, such as robotics, radio frequency identification (RFID), three-dimensional food printing, artificial intelligence, etc. Significant role of food properties in design of specific food and edible packaging films have been elucidated.

Handbook of Essential Oils: Science, Technology, and Applications presents the development, use and marketing of essential oils. Exciting new topics include insecticidal applications, but there is a continued focus on the chemistry, pharmacology and biological activities of essential oils. The third edition unveils new chapters including the insect repellent and insecticidal activities of essential oils, the synergistic activity with antibiotics against resistant microorganisms, essential oil applications in agriculture, plant-insect interactions, and pheromones and contaminants in essential oils. Features Presents a wide range of topics including sources, production, analysis, storage, transport, chemistry, aromatherapy, pharmacology, toxicology, metabolism, technology, biotransformation, application, utilization, and trade Includes discussions of biological activity testing, results of antimicrobial and antioxidant tests, and penetration enhancing activities useful in drug delivery Covers up-to-date regulations and legislative procedures, together with the use of essential oils in perfumes, cosmetics, feed, food, beverages, and pharmaceutical industries Unveils new chapters including the insect repellent and insecticidal activities of essential oils, the synergistic activity with antibiotics against resistant microorganisms, essential oil applications in agriculture, plant-insect interactions, and pheromones and contaminants in essential oils The American Botanical Council (ABC) named the second edition as the recipient of the 2016 ABC James A. Duke Excellence in Botanical Literature Award and recognized that essential oils are one of the fastest growing segments of the herbal product market

Until now, books addressing Halal issues have focused on helping Muslim consumers decide what to eat and what to avoid among products currently on the marketplace. There was no resource that the food industry could refer to that provided the guidelines necessary to meet the Halal requirements of Muslim consumers in the U.S. and abroad.

Halal Food Production answers this need by summarizing the fundamentals of Halal food production, serving as a valuable reference for food scientists, food manufacturers, and other food industry professionals. This text delivers a wealth of information about Halal food laws and regulations, guidelines for food production, domestic and international food markets, and trade and import requirements for various countries. Both authors are food scientists who have practical experience in Halal food requirements and Halal certification.

For persons targeting the Halal food market for the first time, this book is particularly valuable, providing understanding of how to properly select, process, and deliver foods. In light of the increasing worldwide demand for Halal food service, branded packaged food, and direct-marketed items, this volume is more than an expert academic resource, it is a beneficial tool for developing new and promising revenue streams.

This book offers a much-needed reframing of food discourse by presenting alternative ways of thinking about the changing politics of food, eating, and nutrition. It examines critical epistemological questions of how food knowledge comes to be shaped and why we see pendulum swings when it comes to the question of what to eat. As food facts peak and peril in the face of conflicting dietary advice and nutritional evidence, this book situates shifting food truths through a critical analysis of how healthy eating is framed and contested, particularly amid fluctuating truth claims of a "post-truth" culture. It explores what a post-truth epistemological framework can offer critical food and health studies, considers the type of questions this may enable, and looks at what can be gained by relinquishing rigid empirical pursuits of singular dietary truths. In focusing too intently on the separation between food fact and food fiction, the book argues that politically dangerous and epistemically narrow ideas of one way to eat "healthy" or "right" are perpetuated. Drawing on a range of archival materials related to food and health and interviews with registered dietitians, this book offers various examples of shifting food truths, from macro-historical genealogies to contemporary case studies of dairy, wheat, and meat. Providing a rich and innovative analysis, this book offers news ways to think about, and act upon, our increasingly complex food landscapes. It does so by loosening our empirical Western reliance on singular food facts in favour of an articulation of contextual food truths that situate the problems of health as problems of living, not as individualistic problems of eating. It will be of interest to students, scholars, and practitioners working in food studies, food politics, sociology, environmental geography, health, nutrition, and cultural studies.

This timely reference utilizes simplified computer strategies to analyze, develop, and optimize industrial food processes and offers procedures to assess various operating conditions, engineering and economic relationships, and the physical and transport properties of foods for the design of the most efficient food manufacturing technologies and equipment. Food Process Design discusses the integration and economic profitability of the entire food processing plant including effective use of water, energy, and raw materials; process profitability; and wastewater reduction. The book offers detailed numerical examples for major food processes including heating, cooling, freezing, and more.

Carotenoids, naturally occurring pigments, are exclusively synthesized by plants and micro-organisms. Humans are not able to synthesize carotenoids and depend entirely on dietary intake of fruits, vegetables and nutritional supplements. Lycopene, a red coloured carotenoid phytonutrient, naturally produced in highest concentration in tomato and tomato-based products is a potent 1O2 quencher, and has been found to possess "antioxidant" and "antitumor" properties that mitigate the damaging effects of oxidative stress. This book discusses food sources, the potential role in human health of lycopene, and the antioxidant effects lycopene possesses.

This book discusses several topics on food issues, policies, and safety. The topics include average food prices; genetically engineered salmon; food recalls and other FDA administrative enforcement actions; implementation of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act; and FDA's international food safety capacity-building plan.

Comprehensive and accessible, Food Plant Sanitation presents fundamental principles and applications that are essential for food production safety. It provides basic, practical information on the daily operations in a food processing plant and reviews some of the industry's most recent developments. The book is unique from others on the topic in that it features the perspectives of more than 30 food safety experts from government, academia, and the food industry. These authorities cover nine major areas of interest:
Federal and state regulations and guidelines
Major biological and nonbiological contaminants
Cleaning a food plant
Sanitation and worker safety
Housekeeping
Product quality
Commodity processing
Retail food sanitation
Enforcement
In addition to covering primary sanitation practices, the book touches on the latest information on the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) program. The mention of the HACCP is of particular importance because it is imperative that a food processing plant has put in place an acceptable sanitation program on principle and in practice before considering the program. Additional topics include the spread of bacterial and viral foodborne diseases, the risks from protozoa and nematodes in food production, and the design and development of self-inspection programs.

Develop the untapped possibilities of this potential tourist El Dorado Given its size, location, cultural attractions, and natural beauty, South America gets far less of the international tourist dollar than it deserves. This valuable book identifies and explores the major issues that influence and shape tourism in South America. Tourism in South America includes original empirical research into the image people have of this varied continent, the factors that draw people to visit South America, and the fears, lack of knowledge, and negative images that can keep tourists away.Tourism in South America examines current practices and suggests alternative models of development. Its informative discussions range from cultural tourism to sustainable tourism to developing human resources. The original empirical research in this volume offers unique insights, and reference notes are included.The reader will encounter varied points of view in Tourism in South America. You can expect to: view Australian travel industry perspectives on Latin American tourism explore the impact of tourism on the Argentina's Patagonian Coast examine the environmental tactics that Mexican and Jamaican hotel companies employ survey the recreation preferences of hikers in a Colombian National Park ponder the implications of performing traditional dances for modern tourists in the AmazonTour operators, hotel managers, local tourism boards, and others seeking the attention of tourists will profit from the new strategies and original research presented in Tourism in South America.

Preparing Participants for Intergenerational Interaction: Training for Success examines established intergenerational programs and provides the training methods necessary for activity directors or practitioners to start a similar program. This book contains exercises that will help you train colleagues and volunteers for these specific programs and includes criteria for activity evaluations. Preparing Participants for Intergenerational Interaction will help you implement programs that enable older adults to build friendships, pass down their skills and knowledge to adolescents, and provide youths with positive role models.Discussing the factors that often limit the interaction of older adults with youths, this text stresses the importance of conveying information and history to younger generations. You will learn why the exchange between different generations is crucial to society and to the improvement of the community in which you live. Preparing Participants for Intergenerational Interaction provides you with proven suggestions and methods that will make your program successful, including: examining Howe-To Industries, a program that teaches entrepreneurial skills to youths through older adults focusing on activities between older adults and youths that address aging sensitivity and racial and ethnic understanding defining the roles of a mentor, including teacher, trainer, developer of talent, and counselor increasing support and understanding in your community by defining target markets and selling the project to the public describing the aspects of group dynamics and how group decisionmaking methods are used to assess the success of the program and its volunteers understanding the community where participants live in order to address issues important to them, such as poverty and other social problems Containing sample handouts, self-evaluations, and detailed lessons for different types of programs, this book offers you guidelines that apply to participants that have a variety of needs within different communities. Preparing Participants for Intergenerational Interaction: Training for Success will enable you to help older adults remain an active and essential part of these communities by teaching youths valuable life skills they may not receive from anyone else.

Develop the untapped possibilities of this potential tourist El Dorado Given its size, location, cultural attractions, and natural beauty, South America gets far less of the international tourist dollar than it deserves. This valuable book identifies and explores the major issues that influence and shape tourism in South America. Tourism in South America includes original empirical research into the image people have of this varied continent, the factors that draw people to visit South America, and the fears, lack of knowledge, and negative images that can keep tourists away. Tourism in South America examines current practices and suggests alternative models of development. Its informative discussions range from cultural tourism to sustainable tourism to developing human resources. The original empirical research in this volume offers unique insights, and reference notes are included. The reader will encounter varied points of view in Tourism in South America.You can expect to: view Australian travel industry perspectives on Latin American tourism explore the impact of tourism on the Argentina's Patagonian Coast examine the environmental tactics that Mexican and Jamaican hotel companies employ survey the recreation preferences of hikers in a Colombian National Park ponder the implications of performing traditional dances for modern tourists in the Amazon Tour operators, hotel managers, local tourism boards, and others seeking the attention of tourists will profit from the new strategies and original research presented in Tourism in South America.

Encyclopedia of Food Chemistry, Three Volume Set is the ideal primer for food scientists, researchers, students and young professionals who want to acquaint themselves with food chemistry. Well-organized, clearly written, and abundantly referenced, the book provides a foundation for readers to understand the principles, concepts, and techniques used in food chemistry applications. Articles are written by international experts and cover a wide range of topics, including food chemistry, food components and their interactions, properties (flavor, aroma, texture) the structure of food, functional foods, processing, storage, nanoparticles for food use, antioxidants, the Maillard and Strecker reactions, process derived contaminants, and the detection of economically-motivated food adulteration. The encyclopedia will provide readers with an introduction to specific topics within the wider context of food chemistry, as well as helping them identify the links between the various sub-topics.

Offering over 2000 useful references and more than 200 helpful tables, equations, drawings, and photographs, this book presents research on food phosphates, commercial starches, antibrowning agents, essential fatty acids, and fat substitutes, as well as studies on consumer perceptions of food additives. With contributions from nearly 50 leading international authorities, the Second Edition of Food Additives details food additives for special dietary needs, contemporary studies on the role of food additives in learning, sleep, and behavioral problems in children, safety and regulatory requirements in the U.S. and the European Union, and methods to determine hypersensitivity.

Through three editions, this book described the contents of food raw materials and products, the chemistry/ biochemistry of food components, as well as the changes occurring during post harvest storage and processing affecting the quality of foods. Chemical and Functional Properties of Food Components, Fourth Edition, discusses the role of chemical compounds in the structure of raw materials and the formation of different attributes of food quality, including nutritional value, safety, and sensory properties. This new edition contains four new chapters: Non-Protein Nitrogenous Compounds; Prooxidants and Antioxidants in Food; Non-Nutritive Bioactive Compounds in Food of Plant Origin; and Methods Used for Control of the Sensory and Biological Properties of Foods. These chapters have been included because new research results have brought increasing knowledge on: the effect of nonprotein nitrogenous compounds, especially bioactive peptides, nucleic acids, and biogenic amines on the biological properties of foods; the role of natural and added pro-oxidants and antioxidants in processing and biological impact of foods; numerous beneficial and harmful effects of bioactive components of plant foods; new systems of control of food composition and the safety of foods. Features: Stresses the effect of the chemical/biochemical reactions on the selection of optimum parameters of food processing without presenting details of the technological processes Describes naturally occurring elements and compounds as well as those generated during food handling in view of health hazards they may bring to consumers Discusses the risks and benefits of reactions occurring during food handling The knowledge of the chemistry and biochemistry of the components and their interactions presented in this book aids food scientists in making the right decisions for controlling the rate of beneficial and undesirable reactions, selecting optimal storage and processing parameters, as well as the best use of food raw materials.

Sage, the Genus Salvia is one of the most famous and used herbs in the world. This volume, containing over twenty chapters written by leading experts in the field, presents a comprehensive coverage on all aspects of Salvia. Topics covered include the presentation of the most known Salvia species (approximately 400 of them), the distribution of the genus, its chemotaxonomy, ecophysiology, cultivation technology and breeding methods, information on the extraction, isolation, characterisation and structure of a large number of bioactive components, the various pharmacological properties of the species, the share of Salvia products in aromatherapy and the natural cosmetics market, biotechnological techniques, and commercial aspects.

This comprehensive volume on Salvia should be of interest to everyone involved in medicinal and aromatic plant applications and research.

Food Packaging: Advanced Materials, Technologies, and Innovations is a one-stop reference for packaging materials researchers working across various industries. With chapters written by leading international researchers from industry, academia, government, and private research institutions, this book offers a broad view of important developments in food packaging. Presents an extensive survey of food packaging materials and modern technologies Demonstrates the potential of various materials for use in demanding applications Discusses the use of polymers, composites, nanotechnology, hybrid materials, coatings, wood-based, and other materials in packaging Describes biodegradable packaging, antimicrobial studies, and environmental issues related to packaging materials Offers current status, trends, opportunities, and future directions Aimed at advanced students, research scholars, and professionals in food packaging development, this application-oriented book will help expand the reader's knowledge of advanced materials and their use of innovation in food packaging.

Consumer concerns play a critical role in dictating the direction of research and development in food protection. The rising demand for minimally processed foods, growing concerns about the use of synthetic preservatives, and suspected links between the overuse of antibiotics and multi-drug resistance in microbes has made food safety a global priority.

Natural Food Antimicrobial Systems focuses on advances in the technology of food safety. Numerous antimicrobial agents exist in animals and plants where they evolved as defense mechanisms. For example, the antimicrobial components of milk have been unraveled in recent years. The book covers how these components - such as lactoferrin - can be used as multifunctional food additives such as antioxidants and immuno-modulating agents.

The six sections cover lacto-antimicrobials, ovo-antimicrobials, phyto-antimicrobials, bacto-antimicrobials, acid-antimicrobials, and milieu-antimicrobials. Each chapter provides background and historical information, molecular properties, antimicrobial activity, biological advantage, applications, safety, tolerance, and efficacy, and biotechnology.

To satisfy the rapidly changing consumption patterns of the global market, the food processing industry continuously searches for new technologies in food science. Designed as a reference for academia and corporate R & D, Natural Food Antimicrobial Systems fills this need, offering in-depth information on emerging biotechnology, efficacy, and applications of natural food antimicrobial systems.

With the growing concern for the environment and the rising price of crude oil, there is increasing demand for non-petroleum-based polymers from renewable resources. Biopolymer films have been regarded as potential replacements for synthetic films in food packaging due to a strong marketing trend toward environmentally friendly materials. Biopolymer-based films and coatings display good barrier properties, flexibility, transparency, economic profitability, and environmental compatibility. Therefore, they have successfully been used for packaging various food products. Biopolymer-Based Films and Coatings: Trends and Challenges elaborates on the recent methods and ingredients for making biodegradable films and coatings, as well as the current requirements for food security and environmental issues. This book will also explore films and coatings prepared with essential oils, antimicrobial substances, and bioactive components that make this active packaging. Films and coating chapters will be explored based on biopolymers used to prepare films and coatings, i.e., carbohydrates, lipids, protein, etc. This book will provide a platform for researchers and industrialists for the basic and advanced concepts of films and coatings. Key Features: Provides a comprehensive analysis of recent findings on biopolymers (carbohydrate, protein, and lipid) based films and coatings Contains a wealth of new information on the properties, functionality, and applications of films and coatings Presents possible active and functional components and ingredients for developing films and coatings. Guides start-up researchers on where to start the latest research work in packaging It has been estimated that the global production of bioplastics is set to hike from ~2.11 in 2020 to ~2.87 million tonnes in 2025. Further, the demand for fresh, ready-to-eat, or semi-finished foods is increasing, and the need to maintain food safety and quality further exacerbates the challenges in the supply chain, especially with the globalization of food trade and the use of centralized processing facilities for food distribution. It is an urgent requirement to increase shelf life and reduce food product loss. Considering the great market demand for biodegradable material-based packaging systems, this book comes at an opportune time to enable researchers and food scientists to develop a suitable solution considering the sustainability and economic feasibility of the process.

Through the use of molecular and cellular biological techniques, numerous advances have been made in understanding the molecular basis of virulence mechanisms and toxin biosynthesis in organisms that contaminate food and feed. Microbial Foodborne Diseases: Mechanisms of Pathogenesis and Toxin Synthesis serves as an advanced text on these techniques, providing useful, up-to-date information by recognized authorities on the molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis and toxin production of some of the most important foodborne pathogens. This book focuses on the molecular and cellular processes that govern pathogenicity and toxin production in foodborne and waterborne pathogens - viral, bacterial, fungal, and protozoan. It also includes current information related to the association of each pathogen with particular foods and water, epidemiology, methods of early detection, toxicology, and economic impact of the pathogen. It not only serves as an excellent reference, it is also a valuable tool in the rational design of preventative controls and therapeutic approaches to the disease process.

Illnesses resulting from foodborne pathogens occur at least 6 million times each year and cause an estimated 9,000 deaths. For decades, food microbiologists have developed various effective methods of food protection. However, the constant development of multi-facet food processing technologies and the emergence of potent foodborne pathogens, compromised the efficacy of many antimicrobial interventions. Most technologies also fail to address the problem of bacterial debris remaining on the food surface. Furthermore, some bacteria have the ability to develop resistance to antimicrobial interventions. All such factors contribute to the continuously growing concern of keeping our food safe. Lactoferrin: Natural o Multifunctional o Antimicrobial presents the scientific background on use of this naturally occurring microbial blocking agent as an effective food antimicrobial intervention. THE SOURCE FOR APPLIED SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION ON LACTOFERRIN AS A NATURAL ANTIMICROBIAL INTERVENTION Lactoferrin: Natural o Multifunctional o Antimicrobial details microbial blocking technology to protect foods from harmful microbes. Recently, researchers at the Center for Antimicrobial Research, California State Polytechnic University at Pomona found that lactoferrin, when activated, functions as a potent antimicrobial intervention. It protects food by removing harmful bacteria from the surface, and by starving bacteria before they can multiply and produce harmful toxins and it also prevents bacteria from re-attaching to food surfaces. As a result this substance has potential to help the agribusiness and food industry supply safer food products to consumers. WHY LACTOFERRIN? Studied for 50 years, lactoferrin is known to have many beneficial biological properties as an integral component of the mammalian innate defense system. Lactoferrin is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial known to inhibit proliferation of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Some of its current applications include: dietary supplement, ingredient in infant formula, and a medical treatment to boost the immune system. Because lactoferrin occurs naturally in milk products, it has a long track record of being safely consumed by humans. Convenient and affordable, lactoferrin could revolutionize the field of food antimicrobial science and technology and the way we protect ourselves from foodborne pathogens.

This thoroughly revised second edition addresses the full spectrum of cereal grain science, employing agronomic, chemical, and technological perspectives and providing new and expanded treatment of food enrichment techniques, nutritional standards, and product quality evaluation.
Written by over 40 internationally respected authorities, the Handbook of Cereal Science and Technology, Second Edition discusses recent developments in the chemical composition and functionality of cereal components such as proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids; highlights newly developed special ingredients and microbiological operations in processed foods; and investigates the most up-to-date production, processing, and uses of triticale, wild rice, and other grains.
The book also addresses the latest standards set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, international organizations, and industry lobby groups; illustrates how new breeds of cereal grains are developed and sustained; explains new processing techniques for producing baked goods, pasta, breakfast cereals, and snack foods; and evaluates up-to-the-minute methods of fortifying foods with folic acid and other supplements.

Discussing the latest processes involved in researching yield generation, Wheat: Ecology and Physiology of Yield Determination will help you design various types of crop production systems for maximum yield. Featuring information on developing high-yielding, low-input, and quality-oriented systems, this book offers you both physiological and ecological approaches that will help you understand the crop as well as increase its production. Discussing aspects of wheat growth for specific regions around the world, Wheat provides you with information that will improve the size and quality of your crops, including: how temperature, vernalization, and the photoperiod affect the development of wheat using the correct amount of nitrogen fertilizers for wheat crops an explanation of the reproduction and nitrogen cycles of wheat how elements and conditions such as lipids, proteins, nitrogen, and climate enhance grain quality estimating and determining optimal sowing dates examining factors that may affect wheat yield-density relationships, such as planting arrangement and date of sowing preventing seed decay and examining effects of mildews and leaf blights examining historical trends of the crop to see what further research needs to be done You'll also receive information on the genetic gains in wheat research that are improving the physiological traits and numerical components of this essential grain. Within Wheat, you'll find data and methods from international experts in the field that will improve the yield and growth of the world's most important crop.

This comprehensive new book provides up-to-date information on many types of Asian prepared foods-their origin, preparation methods, processing principles, technical innovation, quality factors, nutritional values, and market potential. Written by experts who specialize in the field, it includes information on Asian dietary habits and the health significance of Asian diets.
Asian Foods also discusses differences in preparations and varieties among diverse Asian ethnic groups and regions, cultural aspects associated with the consumption of the products, and the market status or potential of more than 400 varieties of Asian foods. These foods include products made from rice, wheat, other starchy grains, soybeans, meat, poultry, fish, fruits, and vegetables, as well as functional foods and alcoholic beverages.
This timely book will be of interest to food professionals in product development, dieticians interested in Asian diets and dietary habits, business developers seeking market potential for Asian prepared foods, and food science and human nutrition students who need supplemental information.

Enzymes in Food Biotechnology: Production, Applications, and Future Prospects presents a comprehensive review of enzyme research and the potential impact of enzymes on the food sector. This valuable reference brings together novel sources and technologies regarding enzymes in food production, food processing, food preservation, food engineering and food biotechnology that are useful for researchers, professionals and students. Discussions include the process of immobilization, thermal and operational stability, increased product specificity and specific activity, enzyme engineering, implementation of high-throughput techniques, screening to relatively unexplored environments, and the development of more efficient enzymes.