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Microorganisms harbor keys to a circular bioeconomy making them useful tools in fighting plastic pollution and rising CO2 levels
Summary
Researchers argued that microorganisms, especially extremophiles (microbes that thrive in harsh conditions), hold the genetic blueprints needed to develop biotechnologies that can break down plastics and reduce carbon emissions. The paper calls for a major shift toward microbial biotechnology as a cornerstone of a sustainable circular economy that moves beyond fossil fuels and single-use plastics.
The major global and man-made challenges of our time are the fossil fuel-driven climate change a global plastic pollution and rapidly emerging plant, human and animal infections. To meet the necessary global changes, a dramatic transformation must take place in science and society. This transformation will involve very intense and forward oriented industrial and basic research strongly focusing on (bio)technology and industrial bioprocesses developments towards engineering a zero-carbon sustainable bioeconomy. Within this transition microorganisms-and especially extremophiles-will play a significant and global role as technology drivers. They harbor the keys and blueprints to a sustainable biotechnology in their genomes. Within this article, we outline urgent and important areas of microbial research and technology advancements and that will ultimately make major contributions during the transition from a linear towards a circular bioeconomy.
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