Green Microbiology: Advancing Sustainability Through Microbial Innovations—2nd Edition

Dear Colleagues,

Following the resounding success of the first edition of this Special Issue, we are pleased to launch the second volume of “Green Microbiology: Advancing Sustainability through Microbial Innovations”. The inaugural edition attracted wide scholarly interest, featuring impactful studies on bioremediation, waste valorization, and sustainable microbial technologies. Notably, the article “From Waste to Plate: Exploring the Impact of Food Waste Valorisation on Achieving Zero Hunger” received over 12,000 views and 24 citations to date, underscoring the global relevance and academic value of this topic.

The continuation of this Special Issue reflects both the growing momentum of microbial research in addressing sustainability challenges and the positive response from the academic community. As the field continues to evolve rapidly, this second edition aims to further explore cutting-edge innovations, interdisciplinary approaches, and microbial solutions that align with global sustainability goals, including the SDGs.

Green microbiology, a rapidly evolving field at the intersection of microbiology and sustainability, focuses on harnessing the power of microbes to address environmental challenges and promote sustainable practices. The importance of this research area lies in its potential to contribute to a more sustainable future by utilizing microbial processes and technologies. This Special Issue aims to showcase the latest advancements, research findings, and innovative applications in green microbiology, highlighting its role in advancing sustainability.

By delving into a diverse range of topics within green microbiology, we can deepen our understanding of the contributions that microbes can make to sustainability and promote the integration of microbial-based solutions with various domains.

We invite submissions on the following themes:

1. Microbial Biodegradation and Bioremediation: This theme will explore the potential of microbes in breaking down and eliminating pollutants from soil, water, and air. Manuscripts may discuss the identification and optimization of microbial strains for specific pollutants, the use of microbial consortia for effective bioremediation, and the integration of microbial processes with engineering solutions to clean up contaminated sites.
2. Microbes as Biofertilizers and Plant Growth Promoters: This theme will focus on the role of microbes in sustainable agriculture, including their ability to enhance nutrient availability, improve soil health, and promote plant growth. Contributions may cover topics such as the use of microbial biofertilizers, mechanisms of plant–microbe interactions, and the potential for microbial-based solutions to reduce reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
3. Microbial Technologies for Waste Management: This theme will highlight innovative microbial technologies and processes that contribute to effective waste management and resource recovery. Submissions may cover microbial composting, anaerobic digestion for bioenergy production, microbial fermentation for organic waste valorization, and the potential of microbial communities to transform waste into valuable products, promoting a circular economy and minimizing waste generation.
4. Microbes in Renewable Energy Production: This theme will explore the role of microbes in advancing renewable energy sources, such as biofuels and biogas. Manuscripts may discuss the microbial conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into bioethanol, microbial electrolysis cells for hydrogen production, and the use of microbial consortia in biogas production from organic waste. Emphasis will be placed on microbial-based technologies to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.
5. Microbes and Sustainable Water Management: This theme will discuss the applications of microbes in sustainable water management, including wastewater treatment, water purification, and the restoration of aquatic ecosystems. Contributions may cover microbial fuel cells for energy-efficient wastewater treatment, the use of microbial biofilms to remove contaminants, and the role of microbial communities in improving water quality and ecosystem health.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcomed. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Green microbiology;
• Microbial biodegradation and bioremediation;
• Microbes as biofertilizers and plant growth promoters (role of microbes in sustainable agriculture and enhancing nutrient availability);
• Microbial technologies for waste management (innovative microbial technologies and processes for effective waste management and resource recovery);
• Microbes in renewable energy production;
• Microbes and sustainable water management.

We warmly welcome contributions that advance the theoretical, practical, and policy dimensions of green microbiology. Submissions may focus on original research, critical reviews, or visionary perspectives that push the boundaries of microbial science for sustainable development.

In particular, we encourage work that addresses the following:

• Emerging technologies (e.g., microbiome engineering, AI-driven microbial applications)
• Sustainable transitions in food, water, and energy systems
• Microbial contributions to the circular economy and climate action

This second edition will build on the solid foundation of its predecessor and seeks to further position green microbiology as a driver of environmental resilience and innovation. We look forward to receiving your valuable contributions.

Dr. Helen Onyeaka
Dr. Taghi Miri
Dr. Adenike A. Akinsemolu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.