Green microbes: Potential solutions for key sustainable development goals

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Agricultural Science
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) face significant threats from climate change, pandemics, and global instability, jeopardizing progress by 2050.
• Urgent interventions are required to address poverty, hunger, and climate change, necessitating innovative and sustainable solutions.

Discussion:

• Microalgae present a promising, versatile solution, offering nutritional benefits (proteins, essential fatty acids) and cultivation in non-arable land, thus enhancing food system sustainability.
• Applications extend to aquaculture as feed alternatives and agriculture as biofertilizers/biostimulants, improving soil health and nutrient cycling.
• Microalgae contribute to land restoration by stabilizing soils, enhancing hydrological functions, and increasing carbon availability, supporting multiple SDGs.

Key Insights:

• Microalgae support sustainable agriculture, land restoration, and carbon sequestration, directly contributing to several SDGs.
• Their cultivation minimizes resource competition and environmental impact, crucial for global food security.
• Integration of microalgae is vital for mitigating environmental degradation and enhancing food availability.

Outlook:

• Increased research and development are essential to fully harness the potential of microalgae.
• Public and political support are crucial for scaling up microalgae applications.
• Microalgae represent a key biological resource for achieving the SDGs and building a sustainable future.