Dear Colleagues,

The increasingly large generation of organic wastes and residues plays a detrimental role in terms of environmental and economic impacts, if not properly managed. In a circular economy strategy, such organic wastes can be efficiently converted into energy and high-value biobased products according to the biorefinery concept. Current research interests are focusing on the exploitation of microbial metabolic pathways for promoting alternative and sustainable strategic waste valorisation techniques.

This Special Issue aims to collect high-impact articles providing insight into the biological processes of waste valorisation, with particular attention given to microbial processes involved in organic waste fermentation/digestion and in the synthesis of platform chemicals, biofuels and secondary products.

Research papers and review articles focusing particularly on biological mechanisms responsible for mediating innovative sustainable bioprocesses are highly welcomed. As an example, but without limitations, the submission of manuscripts elucidating the metabolic pathways and diversity of microorganisms involved in the production of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), bioactive compounds, fine and bulk chemicals, food and feed ingredients and bioenergy (e.g., methane, hydrogen and syngas) from organic wastes (e.g., agricultural and forestry wastes, organic fractions of municipal solid waste, sewage sludge, food and green wastes, exhausted algae and other biomass wastes) is strongly encouraged. In addition, manuscripts dealing with novel biotechnological solutions (including bioelectrochemical systems) and metaomics methodologies are within the scope of this Special Issue.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Andrea Gianico
Dr. Simona Crognale
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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. Microorganisms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2700 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.

• organic waste valorisation
• microbiome
• microbial biotechnology
• anaerobic fermentation
• fatty acids
• bioenergy
• valuable biochemical production
• circular bioeconomy
• biorefinery