Integrating Arid Areas in the Global Bioeconomy: Opportunities and Challenges toward Sustainable Biomass Generation and Management

Abstract

Biosystems and bioprocesses are typically not connected to arid areas, where the produced biomass and its availability are low. There is however a large potential for arid areas to become major bioeconomical actors via more localized biomass generation strategies. Indoor farming, bioengineering, and aquaculture have a great potential to be at the center of this transition. They are expected to address important challenges associated with food and (bio)materials supply and, ultimately, to climate and environment. Specifically, the utilization of the by- and coproducts deriving from these strategies could synergistically connect into a range of circular processes toward sustainable bioproducts’ supply and the greening of arid areas. These topics are at the center of this perspective, where emerging biomass generation and management strategies in arid areas are introduced. The potential positive feedback loops between their coproducts are then put in relation with the development of more diverse and thriving biosystems as well as the generation of a range of bioproducts. These approaches are contextualized with the current and alternative energy sectors and water treatments processes, which have well-established economical portfolios across most arid areas. The mapping of innovative bioeconomical actors in arid areas and their synergistic interactions, as put forward herein aims to intensify research efforts toward a fully integrated and global sustainable bioeconomy.