Researcher, IMIDA/ Consejería de Agua, Agricultura y Pesca, Spain
Dr. María J. Jordán is an accomplished agricultural and food technology scientist with more than 20 years of experience in the fields of aromatic and medicinal plants. Her work focuses on the selection, application, and technological uses of these plants, particularly in enhancing the food industry through the incorporation of essential oils, volatile profiles, polyphenolic components, and antioxidant activities. She has contributed significantly to animal feed research and value-added foods, pioneering efforts in sustainable agricultural practices, and developing new applications for food technology. Her research has led to the establishment of international collaborations and several impactful scientific projects.
Profile
Orcid
Education
Dr. María J. Jordán holds a doctorate in Agricultural and Food Technology. She has gained substantial experience through both her predoctoral and postdoctoral research, where she focused on food aromatic profiles and the determination of aromatically active constituents. Her advanced training in food technology and aromatic plants has equipped her with the expertise necessary to lead groundbreaking research in the field.
Experience
Dr. Jordán has worked extensively on the adaptation of aromatic and medicinal plants for new applications in food technology. Since her appointment in 2002 as the coordinator for the research team at IMIDA (Institute for the Development of Agriculture in Arid Zones), she has spearheaded projects aimed at improving the agronomic conditions of aromatic plant cultivation and the development of added-value products. Dr. Jordán has been involved in breeding programs, including the selection and micropropagation of elite plants such as rosemary, Spanish sage, spikelavender, and red thyme, and has worked on incorporating distillation byproducts into animal feed. She has also led international collaborations with prestigious institutions like the USDA-ARS in Florida, and universities in Tunisia and Algeria.
Research Interests
Dr. Jordán’s research interests center around the use of aromatic and medicinal plants in food technology, focusing on essential oils, volatile profiles, and antioxidant properties. Her work investigates the agronomic adaptation of these plants to different environments and their applications in improving food quality. Additionally, she has worked on breeding programs for these plants and has explored their use in animal feeding to enhance nutritional value and sustainability.
Awards
Dr. Jordán’s work has been recognized with several honors throughout her career, including the Fulbright Fellowship at the USDA-ARS in Florida. Her innovative research has led to the development of an international patent for the use of rosemary extract from distillation byproducts in ruminant diets, showcasing her dedication to advancing agricultural science and food technology.
Publications Notes
Dr. María J. Jordán has published 95 scientific articles, all indexed in the Journal Citation Reports (JCR), with an impressive h-index of 34. Her research has been highly cited and has significantly contributed to the advancement of food science. She is also the author of one book and five book chapters. Notable publications include:
Jordán, M. J., et al. “Determination of optimal agronomic conditions for red thyme cultivation,” Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2008.
Jordán, M. J., et al. “Antioxidant properties of rosemary extracts for animal feed,” Food Chemistry, 2011.
Jordán, M. J., et al. “Development of value-added foods from medicinal plants,” Journal of Food Science, 2015.