We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Biotechnology and Microbial Genomics for Circular Bioeconomy
AI summary Read the abstract
This review surveys how microbial genomics and biotechnology — including bioremediation, bioplastics, and agricultural bioproducts — can support a circular bioeconomy that minimizes waste accumulation and environmental pollution. Developing biodegradable bioplastics through microbial genomics is a key pathway to reducing persistent plastic waste that fragments into microplastics across ecosystems.
Abstract Worldwide industrialization leads to a high demand for energy and natural resources, high pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions, which are associated with climate change. The circular bioeconomy is based on biological resources that are transformed into services, processes, and products, which are further recycled, minimizing waste/by-products accumulation and environmental pollution. Modern biotechnology uses cellular and molecular processes to develop technologies, products, and services. Microorganisms play a key role in the development of modern biotechnology and participate in diverse fields such as environmental decontamination, agriculture, novel materials, and natural bioproducts. The genomics and bioinformatics of organisms have revolutionized biology, allowing the prediction of biological circuits and pathways for the degradation and synthesis of a wide range of biomolecules and their regulation. Microbial genomics opens the door to biotechnological applications, reducing significantly the research and development efforts. In this review, the sailing routes from the biodiversity through microbial genomics to biotechnological applications of bioremediation, agricultural bioproducts, bioplastics, and natural bioproducts will be analyzed. The contributions of these biotechnological fields to the circular bioeconomy are discussed. Hotspots and achievements in these fields and their potential future developments are highlighted toward a circular bioeconomy, which is essential for the sustainable development of our society.
More Papers Like This
Advancing Biotechnology Toward Pollutant Recirculation and Recovery in a Changing World
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines how biotechnology can be applied to pollutant recirculation and recovery in a circular economy framework, discussing microbial, enzymatic, and biosensor-based technologies for detecting and transforming environmental contaminants including microplastics.
Microorganisms harbor keys to a circular bioeconomy making them useful tools in fighting plastic pollution and rising CO2 levels
AI summary Read the abstract
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.
Bioplastics in the circular bioeconomy: Production pathways, biodegradation mechanisms, and environmental implications
AI summary Read the abstract
This comprehensive review examines how bioplastics — plastics made from renewable biological sources — fit into a circular economy, covering how they are produced, how microorganisms break them down, and the environmental risks when degradation is incomplete. A key concern is that even bio-based plastics can form microplastics if they do not fully degrade in real-world conditions like marine or soil environments, meaning that simply switching to bioplastics does not automatically solve the microplastic pollution problem.
Microbial enzyme biotechnology to reach plastic waste circularity
AI summary Read the abstract
Review of microbial enzymes as biotechnological tools for plastic waste biodegradation and circularity
Rethinking plastics through microbial biodegradation and circular economy innovation – A review
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed emerging biotechnological strategies — including bacterial, fungal, and enzymatic breakdown of plastics — as key tools for transitioning from a throwaway plastic economy to a circular one where plastics are biodegraded or recycled rather than discarded. They identify scalability and regulatory gaps as the main barriers to deploying these solutions at the global level needed to address plastic pollution.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.