Next-Gen Biofuels: Innovations in Microbial Fermentation and Metabolic Networks

Dear Colleagues,

The global energy transition is driving an urgent search for renewable and sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels. Among these, biofuels derived from microbial fermentation are emerging as key players to meet the growing demand for low-carbon energy carriers. Recent advances in microbial biotechnology, systems biology, and metabolic engineering are reshaping the landscape of biofuel production, enabling the creation of next-generation biofuels such as biohydrogen, biobutanol, biomethane, and advanced bioethanol with improved yields and tailored properties.

This Special Issue, Next-Gen Biofuels: Innovations in Microbial Fermentation and Metabolic Networks, aims at highlighting the most recent breakthroughs that integrate microbiology, metabolic design, and process engineering to push beyond the limitations of conventional biofuel technologies. New tools in synthetic biology and genome editing—such as CRISPR-based approaches and dynamic regulatory circuits—are accelerating the construction of robust microbial cell factories capable of efficiently converting lignocellulosic biomass, industrial waste streams, and CO₂-rich gases into high-value biofuels.

Metabolic network modeling and systems-level optimization now allow unprecedented control over key pathways, improving redox balance, substrate utilization, and tolerance to product-related stress. Novel microbial consortia, co-cultivation strategies, and dark fermentation processes are enabling the simultaneous production of hydrogen, methane, and organic acids, creating integrated biorefinery concepts with minimized waste and improved energy recovery.

Furthermore, coupling microbial fermentation with renewable energy sources and carbon capture strategies offers the potential to achieve near-zero or even negative greenhouse gas emissions. Advances in bioprocess design—such as continuous fermentation, adaptive laboratory evolution, and smart bioreactor monitoring—are enhancing scalability and economic feasibility, bridging the gap between laboratory innovation and industrial implementation.

In this Special Issue, we welcome original research articles, reviews, and case studies that explore innovative metabolic engineering, novel microbial strains, advanced fermentation systems, and integrated process concepts contributing to the next generation of sustainable biofuels.

By gathering interdisciplinary contributions, this Special Issue seeks to provide a comprehensive perspective on the future of microbial fermentation as a cornerstone of the global bioeconomy and the decarbonization of energy systems.

Prof. Dr. Massimiliano Fabbricino
Dr. Gennaro Trancone
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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