Environmental Sustainability and Biotechnology: Opportunities and Challenges

Prof Naveen Kumar Arora, Fellow of International Society of Environmental Botanists, Professor in Department of Environmental Science, Former Dean, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, and President of Institutions Innovation Council, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, India, is a renowned researcher in the field of Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology. His specific area of research is plant-microbe-interactions and sustainable agriculture. He has more than 170 research articles published in international journals. He is editor of 54 books, published by Springer Nature an Elsevier. He is the Series Editor of book series “Microorganisms for Sustainability” published by Springer Nature and Editor of the journal “Plant Pathology” published by Wiley. He is the Editor in Chief of the journal “Environmental Sustainability” published by Springer Nature. He has received awards for excellence in research by various national and international organizations. He is President, Society for Conservation of Wildlife and is Secretary, Society for Environmental Sustainability.Prof Piyush Pandey is working at the Department of Microbiology, Assam University, India. He has twenty-four years of academic and research experience. His research group works on plant associated bacteria, with their potential applications in agriculture and environment. He has published more than 160 papers in journals of high impact, four books, and undertaken sixteen research grants. He has been awarded with ‘DBT-Unit for Excellence award’ for working on plant-rhizosphere mediated bioremediation of polyaromatic hydrocarbons. He has been ‘Overseas Associate’ to Agroscope, Switzerland, SICI-SMP fellow to York University, Canada, and had visited Shizuoka University, Japan. Prof. Pandey is Fellow of International Society of Environmental Botanists, member of several scientific societies and has editorial role in reputed Journals. He has been awarded from Springer, Society for Environmental Sustainability, and Asian PGPR Society for his research contributions. Seventeen students have been awarded PhD under his supervision. He has two Indian patents granted.Dr. Jitendra Mishra is an Assistant Professor of Microbiology at Amity University Punjab, India. A globally recognized scientist, he ranked among the top 2% of microbiologists worldwide (Elsevier, 2024). He previously coordinated a DST-SEED-funded project (2020–2023) at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, spearheading R&D in microbial technologies. With prior expertise as a DST Research Associate, he specializes in biocontrol agent development, including strain selection, carrier formulation, and quality control. Dr. Mishra’s research focuses on microbial secondary metabolites, bioinoculants, and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), leveraging fluorescent pseudomonads for eco-friendly phytopathogen management in saline soils. An active academic, he mentors postgraduate students, holds a patent, and has published extensively in reputed journals. He has authored three books and serves as an editor for Frontiers and Springer-Nature journals. His interdisciplinary work bridges microbial innovation and sustainable agriculture, addressing global agricultural challenges through cutting-edge biotechnological solutions.

• Section 1: Foundations of Microbial Biotechnology in Sustainability(Theoretical and conceptual groundwork).- Chapter 1: Microbes for a Sustainable World: Pioneering the SDGs through Microbial IngenuitySection 2: Sustainable Agriculture and Biotechnological Solutions(Applications in food security, crop production, and soil health).- Chapter 2: Microorganisms for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security.- Chapter 3: Biochar Mediated Soil Amendment for Sustainable Agriculture.- Chapter 4: Enhancing Strawberry Production in Different Systems: The Role of Nutrient Solutions and Biofertilizers.- Chapter 5: Salicylic Acid in Sustainable Agriculture by Mitigating Salt Stress: Impact on Membrane Lipids.- Chapter 6: Bioprospecting of Plant Growth-Promoting Fungi (PGPF) for Remediating Plant Stress Section 3: Industrial Biotechnology and Environmental Remediation(Advanced applications in industry, waste management, and environmental restoration).- Chapter 7: Microbially Derived Chitinases: Multifunctional Enzymes for Biocontrol, Bioremediation, and Sustainable Industrial Applications.- Chapter 8: Unveiling Nature's Bacterial Solution to Radioactive Waste.- Chapter 9: Bacterial Remediation of Radioactive Waste: Current Understanding On Mechanistic Insights and Future Direction.- Chapter 10:Food Waste Biotransformation: Advancing Enzyme Production through Microbial Processes.- Chapter 11:Pyomelanin Biosynthesis by Pseudomonas: A Sustainable Resource for Cosmetic Formulations.- Chapter 12:Proteomics in Unravelling Secondary Metabolite Synthesis in Plants: Exploring the Microbial Connection.