Bamboo for the Future: From Traditional Use to Industry 5.0 Applications.

Area of Science:

• Botany and Plant Science
• Sustainable Materials Science
• Bioeconomy Research

Background:

• Bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants globally, outperforming other woody plants.
• Cultivated on 37 million ha worldwide, bamboo offers significant environmental, social, and economic benefits.
• Historically used in traditional applications, bamboo is now a high-value crop and innovation platform.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review bamboo's evolution from a traditional resource to a strategic bioresource for Industry 5.0.
• To highlight bamboo's role in low-emission, circular bioeconomies.
• To identify pathways for optimizing bamboo cultivation, processing, and integration into carbon frameworks.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of bamboo's properties, applications, and challenges.
• Analysis of bamboo's ecological benefits, including carbon sequestration and soil stabilization.
• Exploration of bamboo's potential in bioenergy, advanced materials, and biotechnology.

Main Results:

• Bamboo's rapid growth and renewability support sustainable harvesting.
• High tensile strength and flexibility suit diverse applications like bioenergy and composites.
• Bamboo sequesters significant carbon (up to 259 t C ha⁻¹), stabilizes soil, and aids phytoremediation.
• Market value exceeds USD 41 billion, driven by demand for sustainable materials.

Conclusions:

• Bamboo is a strategic bioresource for Industry 5.0 and circular bioeconomies.
• Innovation in cultivation, green processing, and policy is crucial.
• Overcoming challenges like variability and pest vulnerability will enhance bamboo's contribution to sustainable development.