Human activities continue to cause severe damage to Earth's environment, a fact that is acknowledged by all but the most sceptical. The Stockholm Resilience Centre's concept of planetary boundaries illustrates this crisis. Of the nine planetary boundaries that, if crossed, indicate an increased risk of irreversible environmental change that threatens human survival, humanity has already crossed six. Some of the most critical issues include the disruption of the biogeochemical cycles of nitrogen and phosphorus, mainly due to excessive agricultural fertilisation; loss of biodiversity; over-exploitation of freshwater; and unsustainable land-use change. Indeed, while agriculture is vital for food production and, more recently, for bioenergy to reduce CO2 emissions, it is paradoxically poses one of the main threats to human survival.

This proposal outlines an integrative approach to synthesize various basic and applied research applications aimed at creating a more sustainable society. Here, a sustainable society is defined here as one in where the Earth's environment is maintained in a way that ensures the safe survival of humankind.

The complexity of bioproduction and sustainability

Attempts to replace fossil resources by increasing biomass production on agricultural land exacerbate the risks associated with sustainability indicators. This creates a complex interplay of trade-offs between different sustainability factors and bioproduction, including agriculture.
The contribution of bioproduction to a sustainable society is extremely challenging, largely due to the diversity and complexity of biological systems. In recent years, however, research into sustainability indicators and criteria has accelerated, particularly in Europe. This has led to an increase in measures being implemented, such as the international agreement on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

Emerging solutions

An increasing number of solutions are being proposed to exploit untapped bioresources in a sustainable manner. These solutions involve discovering and harnessing new biological functions and leveraging the diversity and complexity of life. This approach is not simply an extension of conventional technologies but is based on a diverse and fundamental understanding of biological systems.

Research Objectives

This proposal aims to facilitate mutually linked research activities between basic biology and sustainability research, with a goal of bringing about a more sustainable society. To achieve this, a series of research and development topics, which was shown in Fig. I, should be addressed by interdisciplinary teams of biologists, chemists, engineers, and social scientists.

In conclusion, this proposal represents a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to addressing the urgent environmental challenges facing our planet. By integrating cutting-edge biological research with sustainability science, we aim to discover and harness novel biological functions that can contribute to a more sustainable society. The proposed research objectives range from exploring new biological functions to developing sustainability indicators and improving research infrastructure. By fostering collaboration among various scientific disciplines, we seek to develop innovative solutions that can help humanity manage the delicate balance between meeting our needs and preserving the Earth's vital systems.