Dear Colleagues,

The current production processes are mostly still linear and are highly demanding in terms of raw materials and energy while also generating significant waste. These features have contributed to the depletion of resources as well as the increase in overall pollution levels and greenhouse gas emissions, to name just the major undisputed drawbacks of the dominant production pattern. There is growing public awareness that persistence of this very trend would be unsustainable in the medium—if not, short—term and would seriously compromise future generations’ expectations of a good quality of life, and this has served as a major driver for the quest toward sustainable and cost-effective production processes. The mild operational conditions typically required by biobased production processes, together with the selective nature of biocatalysts, microbial diversity and tunability, and the century-long record of fermentation, clearly place bioprocesses as the primary contenders, by far, in achieving the generalized implementation of efficient, green manufacturing strategies. Moreover, by overlapping with the biorefinery approach, the foundations needed for bioprocesses to embrace the circular economy concept are set. Hence, bioprocesses can also become sustainable and more environmentally friendly.

This Special Issue aims to provide insight into the move toward bioproducts and concomitant bioengineering approaches in achieving a sustainable and environmentally friendly economy, the obstacles that were met and overcome throughout this path, and to critically evaluate the challenges that still remain. Accordingly, it will foster contributions addressing the biobased production of building blocks/final products including chemicals, flavors, foods, fuels, nutraceuticals, or pharmaceuticals, preferably favoring the use of cheap, plentiful, and/or easily renewable raw materials. The scope of the Special Issue is intended to be of interest for those already involved in the field as well as highly appealing for those readers aiming for an overview of existing knowledge within the framework of sustainable production processes and on foreseeable prospective developments.

Dr. Pedro Fernandes
Dr. Carla C. C. R. de Carvalho
Guest Editors

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