Dr. Lihua Fan, CFS

Image Lihua Fan
Research Scientist

Dr. Fan is a food scientist/food microbiologist. Her research addresses both fundamental and practical challenges related to improvement of safety and quality of horticultural produce and food products. She has successfully initiated and led numerous national and international collaborative research projects and has been interacting effectively with government, industry and university collaborators. She has supervised AAFC's and industry technicians, graduate students, co-op and summer students, and visiting scientists. Dr. Fan's research activities and achievements contribute to the Agri-food science and the food industry through generating new knowledge, publishing scientific papers, giving presentations at national and international scientific conferences, developing practical applications and providing scientific advice that industries have incorporated into their handling practices to develop and market the novel food products.

Current research and/or projects

  • New Technologies and Natural Antimicrobials to Improve Microbial and Produce Quality, and Extend Shelf Life of Fresh and Fresh-cut Fruit and Vegetables
  • Carotenoids-producing Yeasts and/or Bacteria of Biotechnological Importance 
  • ASC-12 Grape Wine Cluster Activity 13- Improving Wine Quality Through Mixed and Sequential Fermentations with Indigenous Yeasts 
  • Characterisation of Heat-resistant Molds (HRM) Isolated from Frozen Wild Blueberries and Developing New Blueberry Products 
  • Studies on Properties of Lactic Acid Bacteria and  Development of Fermentation Processes and Fermented Food Products 

Research and/or project statements

Dr. Fan’s research focuses on food safety and quality:

  • applying fermentation technology to improve flavour and nutrition of value-added foods;
  • characterising and selecting native yeasts to improve wine quality;
  • developing novel natural antimicrobials from plant and bacterial origins for food protection;
  • ensuring microbial safety/quality of whole and fresh-cut fruit and vegetables;
  • controlling heat-resistant molds to extend shelf life of processed food products;
  • developing innovative technologies to control post-harvest decay of horticultural produce.

Education and awards

1984. Bachelor Degree. Horticulture. China Agricultural University. Beijing

1989. Master Degree. Food Science/Microbiology. China Agricultural University. Beijing

1991. Ph.D. Food Science/Microbiology. China Agricultural University. Beijing

2009. Received the Canadian Forces Liaison Council’s Nova Scotia Provincial Award for Best Practices in Employer Support.

Since 2013. Certified Food Scientist (CFS)- professional honor and recognized globally.

International experience and/or work

1984-1986. Researcher. Beijing Agricultural Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

1991-1992. Faculty (Lecturer). Department of Food Science, China Agricultural University. Beijing

1992-1994. Visiting Scientist. Institute of Food Technology, University of Hohenheim. Stuttgart, Germany

1995-1998. Visiting Researcher. Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University. Michigan, USA

Key publications

  1. McClure, K.A., Gong, Y.H., Song, J., Vinqvist-Tymchuk, M., Campbell Palmer, L., Fan, L., Burgher-MacLellan, K., Zhang, Z.Q., Celton, J.M., Forney, C.F., Migicovsky, Z., Myles, S. (2019). Genome-wide association studies in apple reveal loci of large effect controlling apple polyphenols. Horticulture Research, [online] 6(1), http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41438-019-0190-y

    2019 - View publication details

  2. Song,* J. , McClure, K. A., Amyotte, B., Gong, YH., Fan, L., Vinqvist-Tymchuk, M., Campbell Palmer, L., Zhang, ZQ., Migicovsky, Z., Myles, S. Targeted and untargeted metabolomics research coupled with genome-wide association analyses reveal genetic and biochemical control mechanism of phenolic compounds in apple fruit. 6th Horticulture Research Conference. Sept.29-Oct.5. 2019. Vince, Italy.

    2019 - View publication details

  3. Song, Jun, Kendra A. McClure, Yihui Gong, Peter Toivonen, Charles Forney, Lihua Fan, Leslie Campbell Palmer, Milinda Vinqvist, Sherry Fillmore, Sean Myles. 2019. Application of integrated ‘omics’ approach to improve and maintain quality of apples fruit: insights, limitation and challenges. CIFST May 2019. Halifax, NS.

    2019 - View publication details

  4. Yang, E., Fan, L., Yan, J., Jiang, Y., Doucette, C., Fillmore, S., Walker, B. (2018). Influence of culture media, pH and temperature on growth and bacteriocin production of bacteriocinogenic lactic acid bacteria. AMB Express, [online] 8(1), http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13568-018-0536-0

    2018 - View publication details

  5. Song, J., McClure, K. A., Luo, H., Du, Lina, Forney, C., Fan, L., Campbell Palmer, L., Fillmore, S., Myles, S., and Zhang, Z. 2018. An integrated `omics´ approach to improve and maintain quality of apples. 2018. XXXISHS, 12-16 August. Istanbul, Turkey.

    2018 - View publication details

  6. Bezanson, G.S., Ells, T.C., Fan, L., Forney, C.F., LeBlanc, D.I. (2018). Aerated Steam Sanitization of Whole Fresh Cantaloupes Reduces and Controls Rind-Associated Listeria but Enhances Fruit Susceptibility to Secondary Colonization. Journal of Food Science, [online] 83(4), 1025-1031. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1750-3841.14082

    2018 - View publication details

  7. Forney, C.F., Fan, L., Bezanson, G.S., Ells, T.C., LeBlanc, D.I., Fillmore, S. (2018). Impact of Listeria Inoculation and Aerated Steam Sanitization on Volatile Emissions of Whole Fresh Cantaloupes. Journal of Food Science, [online] 83(4), 1017-1024. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1750-3841.14092

    2018 - View publication details

  8. McClure, K.A., Gardner, K.M., Douglas, G.M., Song, J., Forney, C.F., Delong, J., Fan, L., Du, L., Toivonen, P.M.A., Somers, D.J., Rajcan, I., Myles, S. (2018). A genome-wide association study of apple quality and scab resistance. Plant Genome, [online] 11(1), http://dx.doi.org/10.3835/plantgenome2017.08.0075

    2018 - View publication details

  9. Fan, L., Martynenko, A., Doucette, C., Hughes, T., Fillmore, S. (2018). Microbial Quality and Shelf Life of Blueberry Purée Developed Using Cavitation Technology. Journal of Food Science, [online] 83(3), 732-739. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1750-3841.14073

    2018 - View publication details

  10. Fan, L*., Z. Ban, W. Kalt, M. Vinqvist-Tymchuk, T. Hughes, C. Doucette and J. Guan. 2017. Potential Application of Haskap Berry Juice and Extracts as Natural Antimicrobials. (Poster ID number 19063). IFT conference, June 24-29th. Published abstract.

    2017 - View publication details

  11. Fan, L*., S. Chen, J. Song, H. Zhang, C. Doucette, T. Hughes and L. Campbell. 2017. Characterization of Heat- resistant Fungus, Neosartorya pseudofischeri Using Proteomic Approach. (Poster ID number 19119). IFT conference, June 24-29th. Published abstract.

    2017 - View publication details

  12. Barasubiye, T*., L. Fan and C. Doucette. 2017. Molecular identification of yeast species colonising grape fruits in Nova Scotia vineyards. Oral presentation at the Joint Meeting of the Canadian Phytopathological Society (CPS) and the Canadian Society of Agronomy. Winnipeg, Manitoba. June 18-22nd.

    2017 - View publication details

  13. Fan, L. and Cliff, M.A. 2017. Carrot-juice milk yogurts: composition, microbiology and sensory acceptance. Chapter 12 pp 221-235. In: Yogurt in Health and Disease (Nagendra Shah, edt). Elsevier Inc.

    2017 - View publication details

  14. Fan, L. 2016. Bacteriocins producing lactic acid bacteria: Isolation, optimization of growth condition for bacteriocins production and application in foods. Invited speaker at the American Chemical Society (ACS) Symposium “Natural and Bio-based Antimicrobials for Food Application”. Philadelphia, USA. August 21-25.

    2016 - View publication details

  15. Chen, S., L. Fan*, J. Song, H. Zhang, C. Doucette, T. Hughes and L. Campbell. 2016. Quantitative analysis of protein profile of ascospores of Neosartorya pseudofischeri subjected to heat treatment. Poster presentation at the ISEKI Food Conference. July 5-8th. Vienna, Austria.

    2016 - View publication details

  16. Fan, L.,* A. Martynenko, C. Doucette, T. Hughes and S. Fillmore. 2016. Microbial Quality and Shelf Life of Processed Blueberry Product. Poster presentation at the ISEKI Food Conference. July 5-8th. Vienna, Austria.

    2016 - View publication details

  17. Ban, Z., L. Fan*, W. Kalt, M. Vinqvist-Tymchuk, T. Hughes, C. Doucette and J. Guan. 2016. Antimicrobial Effect of Haskapberry Juice and Extracts on Listeria innocua and E. coli. Poster presentation at the United Fresh 2016 and S-294. June 10-14th, Chicago, USA.

    2016 - View publication details

  18. Fan, L. and Forney, C.F. (2015). Quality and Safety in Fresh-cut Vegetables and Fruits. Presentation and Report to the S-294 committee meeting. The Multi-state Research Project S-294. (Report)

    2015 - View publication details

  19. Ban, Z., Fan, L., Doucette, C., Hughes, T., Fillmore, S.A.E., and Guan, J. (2015). "Antimicrobial effect of pomegranate juice on Listeria innocua and Escherichia coli.", United Fresh 2015, Chicago, IL, USA, June 9-11, 2015. (Poster)

    2015 - View publication details

  20. Forney, C.F., Bezanson, G.S., Ells, T.C., Fan, L., and LeBlanc, D.I. (2015). "Impact of heat sanitation of fresh whole cantaloupe on fruit quality and volatile metabolism.", Acta Horticulturae (ISHS), 1079, pp. 145-151.

    2015 - View publication details

Research facility

32 Main Street
Kentville, NS B4N 1J5
Canada

Affiliations

  • Affiliated with Dalhousie University and Saint Mary's University, Halifax, Nova Scotia. As a graduate students' supervisory committee member and adjunct professor.
  • As a member of the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) 
  • As a member of the Institute of Food Technologist (IFT)- Professional member group and Food Microbiology Division 
  • As an evaluation group member for the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)'s Discovery Grants 

 

 

Language

English

Other languages

Chinese