Integrating Arid Areas in the Global Bioeconomy: Opportunities and Challenges toward Sustainable Biomass Generation and Management

Abstract

Biosystems and bioprocesses are typically not connected to arid areas, where the produced biomass and its availability are low. There is however a large potential for arid areas to become major bioeconomical actors via more localized biomass generation strategies. Indoor farming, bioengineering, and aquaculture have a great potential to be at the center of this transition. They are expected to address important challenges associated with food and (bio)­materials supply and, ultimately, to climate and environment. Specifically, the utilization of the by- and coproducts deriving from these strategies could synergistically connect into a range of circular processes toward sustainable bioproducts’ supply and the greening of arid areas. These topics are at the center of this perspective, where emerging biomass generation and management strategies in arid areas are introduced. The potential positive feedback loops between their coproducts are then put in relation with the development of more diverse and thriving biosystems as well as the generation of a range of bioproducts. These approaches are contextualized with the current and alternative energy sectors and water treatments processes, which have well-established economical portfolios across most arid areas. The mapping of innovative bioeconomical actors in arid areas and their synergistic interactions, as put forward herein aims to intensify research efforts toward a fully integrated and global sustainable bioeconomy.

Benchmarking the Humidity-Dependent Mechanical Response of (Nano)fibrillated Cellulose and Dissolved Polysaccharides as Sustainable Sand Amendments

“…More advanced models will consider packing of the sand grains, sustainability of the obtained biopolymers (in terms of processing costs and considering other valorization streams competing with amendments), and long-term resistance to erosion due to polymer degradation or migration. A cross-correlation between regionally available biomass, processing costs, and performance can enable decision-making toward consolidation and regeneration of desertic soils, thus enhancing the chances of a functioning bioeconomy in arid areas …”

“…A cross-correlation between regionally available biomass, processing costs, and performance can enable decision-making toward consolidation and regeneration of desertic soils, thus enhancing the chances of a functioning bioeconomy in arid areas. 13 …”

“…Without interventions, in the coming decades, arid areas are expected to increase substantially, and significant efforts are being made to reduce the further spread of arid areas, for instance, by means of consolidating the granular soil and increasing its organic content. − There is a pressing need to improve the overall cohesion of desertic soils with the end goal of improving their potential for plant growth and cropping. Such strategies must consider both localized sourcing that lower transportation and minimally exhaustive processes that prevent the generation and release of environmental hazards. , These are crucial aspects to optimize the overall sustainability of the approach and its durability over periods spanning decades or longer.…”

“…Such strategies must consider both localized sourcing that lower transportation and minimally exhaustive processes that prevent the generation and release of environmental hazards. 13 , 14 These are crucial aspects to optimize the overall sustainability of the approach and its durability over periods spanning decades or longer.…”

Exploring the Water Oxidation Catalytic Activity of a Mn-Based Magnetic Metal–Organic Framework: The Role of Proton Conductivity and Oxygen Evolution Reaction Overpotential

“…One of the biggest contemporary scientific quests is to secure a sustainable energy future, which naturally allures researchers toward synthetic fuels. − At the outset, it is quite safe to say that, notwithstanding some excellent progress in this field, we are still a long way away to find a perfectly optimized man-made energy source that can match its natural counterpart. , The aim is to attain a global source that can be utilized to refill or altogether replace the fast-depleting reserves of fossil fuels. The stakes are very high and failing to do so sooner than later may bring forward severe unforeseen global socioeconomic consequences. − As a countermeasure, researchers are engaged for the last few decades in developing various alternative and renewable energy sources including different fuel cells, solar energy, hydrogen energy, and a range of batteries. , The major obstacles related to these alternative sources can be linked to the term “ sustainable” that inevitably attach many strings to the problem including cost-effectiveness, environmentally benign methods, and abundant supply of raw materials. − More often than not, researchers have come tantalizingly close in achieving their goal, only to be thwarted by issues like economic viability, expansive and/or scarcely available starting materials, low efficiency, and environmental issues. , …”