Editors
Olusola Lamikanra
,
Ph.D., is a lead scientist/research chemist at the USDA-ARS,
Southern Regional Research Center, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is internationally
recognized for his work on plant and food biochemistry and postharvest technology.
His current research deals with establishing biochemical effects of fresh-cut fruit
processing and storage for use in developing biochemical methods needed to assess
fresh-cut fruit quality and novel technologies to improve the sensory quality and
shelf life of fresh-cut fruits. He received his Ph.D. degree in food science from The
University of Leeds, England. He was professor in the Division of Agricultural
Sciences and director of the Center for Viticultural Science and Small Farm Devel-
opment at Florida A&M University, Tallahassee (1988–1999). During this time he
also served as coordinator of the annual viticultural science symposium series that
catered to the southeastern viticulture industry, and edited the symposium proceed-
ings. Dr. Lamikanra is the author of more than 100 technical publications and 60
abstracts. He is a member of the editorial board of the
Journal of Food Argiculture
and Environment.
He is also editor of the multidisciplinary book
Fresh-Cut Fruits
and Vegetables: Science, Technology and Market
(CRC Press).
Syed H. Imam,
Ph.D., is a senior scientist/research chemist in the Bioproduct
Chemistry & Engineering research Unit at the USDA-ARS-Western Regional
Research Center located in Albany, California. The Bioproduct Chemistry & Engi-
neering Research Unit conducts interdisciplinary research on polymers derived from
agricultural residues and surplus commodities to develop new and expanded markets
for renewable materials. He has authored or coauthored over 85 publications and
abstracts and has made over 45 scientific presentations. His research is of consid-
erable breadth and includes fundamental studies on renewable polymers in plastics,
characterization of such plastic blends, and efforts to understand biodegradable
properties of the natural and blended polymers using classical and state-of-the-art
biochemical methods. Dr. Imam is internationally recognized for his accomplish-
ments in the field of polymer degradation. His research activities led him twice
(1993 and 1997) to serve as a United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
consultant/advisor. He is a co-editor of an ACS Book published by the Oxford
University Press titled
Biopolymers: Utilizing Nature’s Advanced Materials
. He is
a member of the editorial advisory board of the
Journal of Environmental Polymer
Degradation
.
Dike O. Ukuku
, Ph.D, is a research food technologist with the Food Safety Inter-
vention Technologies Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture, East-
ern Regional Research Center in Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania. His past research has
focused on short-chain organic acids as antioxidants in lipid oxidation and functional