As the bioeconomy continues to expand, the demand for sustainable, economically viable production pathways becomes increasingly urgent. Recent advancements in synthetic biology, metabolic engineering, and bioprocess optimization have enabled the development of engineered microbial systems capable of converting non-food biomass into high-value biofuels, biochemicals, and biomaterials. Among various feedstocks — such as agricultural residues, forestry byproducts, and municipal solid waste — has garnered significant attention due to its abundance, renewability, and low cost.
Despite its potential, the effective utilization of lignocellulosic biomass remains a major technical challenge. Its recalcitrant structure, composed of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, along with the generation of fermentation inhibitors during pretreatment, continues to hinder large-scale deployment. This Research Topic invites original research and review articles that address innovative strategies for biomass deconstruction, enhanced sugar recovery, lignin valorization, and microbial conversion. In addition, other underutilized and unconventional feedstocks, such as food/agricultural waste, waste gases, and industrial byproducts, are gaining recognition as viable alternatives in the pursuit of a diversified, resilient bioproduction system. Studies that integrate systems biology, enzyme engineering, consolidated bioprocessing, or techno-economic and life cycle assessments to advance the field of sustainable bioproduction are particularly welcome. This issue aims to showcase cutting-edge research and technological innovations that advance the efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable production of biofuels, biochemicals, and biomaterials derived from renewable and waste-based feedstocks. Contributions focusing on novel bioprocessing strategies, metabolic engineering, life cycle assessments, and industrial applications are particularly encouraged.
We invite the submission of Original Research, Review, Mini Review, Perspective articles on themes including, but not limited to:
• Biomass pretreatment and deconstruction methods • Valorization of unconventional feedstocks, such as food waste, waste gases, and industrial byproducts • Novel thermochemical or biological routes for converting cellulose and hemicellulose into biofuels, bioproducts, or biomaterials • Innovative pretreatment techniques and enzymatic hydrolysis strategies • Engineering microbial hosts to convert biomass-derived sugars into value-added products • Biorefinery design, techno-economic analysis, and life cycle assessment • Lignin valorization through direct chemical/biological conversion • Detoxification and process integration strategies for lignocellulosic biomass conversion • Systems biology and omics approaches to improve biomass-to-bioproduct efficiency • Sustainable and eco-manufacturing strategies for biomass-derived products • Industrial-scale implementation and case studies of bio-based technologies
Article types and fees
This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
Brief Research Report
Editorial
FAIR² Data
FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
Methods
Mini Review
Original Research
Perspective
Review
Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.
Article types
This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
