Biotechnology for a more sustainable environment decontamination and energy production

The contributions collected in this Special Issue were selected from lectures and posters presented at the 14th International Biotechnology Symposium and Exhibition (IBS2010) held in Rimini, Italy, 14–18 September, 2010. The aim of the conference was to explore the advances, frontiers and applications of biotechnology for a healthier and more sustainable future and a knowledge-based bio-economy, and to strengthen relations between industry, research laboratories, government agencies, the private sector and universities on such strategic issues for human sustainability. The conference hosted 11 plenary lectures, 45 main lectures and over 300 oral communications and 1600 papers, distributed within nine distinct sessions. This special issue provides some of the key information presented and discussed at the conference in the frame of the sessions “Environmental Biotechnology” and “Biotechnology for Bioenergy” hosted by the conference. The twenty four papers collected in this issue are dealing with advanced biological tools, strategies and technologies for the biodegradation of biogenic and xenobiotic pollutants in soil, sediments, water, air and sites, the integrated valorization of organic waste as well as for the production of bio-based energy and reduction of dependence of current industry on fossil fuels.