About this Research Topic
Achieving carbon neutrality is a critical global objective to mitigate climate change and ensure sustainable development. Biotechnology offers transformative solutions to reduce carbon footprints and enhance carbon sequestration. Employing microbial systems for decarbonization has been listed among the Top-10 emerging technologies of the year 2024, at the World Economic Forum. This thematic issue will explore the latest biotechnological innovations aimed at achieving carbon neutrality employing microbial systems including photosynthetic microbes (algae, cyanobacteria) and genetically engineered microbial platforms. Getting deeper into the advancements in carbon capture and utilization, sustainable bioprocessing, bio-based product development, and the role of synthetic biology in creating efficient, scalable solutions, and reducing carbon footprints of food-production systems, would be the preferred topics. By showcasing cutting-edge research and developments, this issue aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how biotechnological strategies can contribute to a carbon-neutral future.
Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
• Algae-based carbon capture and utilization: Enhancements in algae cultivation systems for optimized carbon capture. Biotransformation of captured carbon in algae biomass to bioproducts.
• Microbial and enzymatic CO2 sequestration: Metabolic engineering for improved CO2 fixation. Enzyme optimization for efficient carbon capture and conversion.
• Synthetic biology and metabolic engineering: Developing engineered organisms for high-efficiency carbon capture. Pathway engineering to produce biofuels and biochemicals for achieving scalability.
• Bioprocessing: Developing circular bioprocessing systems and optimizing processes to reduce carbon footprint.
• Alternative biomanufacturing platforms: Developing alternative innovative carbon-neutral (or low-carbon) biomanufacturing platforms to replace industrial platforms having environmental footprints.
• Renewable biomaterials (Bioplastics and Biopolymers): Production of biodegradable bioplastics from renewable resources. Advances in biopolymer synthesis and applications.
• Carbon-neutral agriculture and forestry: Biotechnological approaches to enhance carbon sequestration in soils. Use of biostimulants and biofertilizers to promote sustainable agriculture to replace chemical fertilizers with a focus on reducing carbon footprints.
• Life cycle assessment and sustainability analysis: Evaluation of biotechnological processes for their carbon neutrality when applied at commercial scale.
This thematic issue will serve as a valuable resource for researchers, policymakers, and industrial stakeholders, providing insights into the pivotal role of microbial biotechnology in achieving global carbon neutrality goals.
Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
• Algae-based carbon capture and utilization: Enhancements in algae cultivation systems for optimized carbon capture. Biotransformation of captured carbon in algae biomass to bioproducts.
• Microbial and enzymatic CO2 sequestration: Metabolic engineering for improved CO2 fixation. Enzyme optimization for efficient carbon capture and conversion.
• Synthetic biology and metabolic engineering: Developing engineered organisms for high-efficiency carbon capture. Pathway engineering to produce biofuels and biochemicals for achieving scalability.
• Bioprocessing: Developing circular bioprocessing systems and optimizing processes to reduce carbon footprint.
• Alternative biomanufacturing platforms: Developing alternative innovative carbon-neutral (or low-carbon) biomanufacturing platforms to replace industrial platforms having environmental footprints.
• Renewable biomaterials (Bioplastics and Biopolymers): Production of biodegradable bioplastics from renewable resources. Advances in biopolymer synthesis and applications.
• Carbon-neutral agriculture and forestry: Biotechnological approaches to enhance carbon sequestration in soils. Use of biostimulants and biofertilizers to promote sustainable agriculture to replace chemical fertilizers with a focus on reducing carbon footprints.
• Life cycle assessment and sustainability analysis: Evaluation of biotechnological processes for their carbon neutrality when applied at commercial scale.
This thematic issue will serve as a valuable resource for researchers, policymakers, and industrial stakeholders, providing insights into the pivotal role of microbial biotechnology in achieving global carbon neutrality goals.
Keywords: Carbon Neutrality, Microbial Decarbonization, Photosynthetic Microbes, Genetically Engineered Microbial Platforms, Sustainable Bioprocessing, Synthetic Biology for Carbon Capture
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