Fungal Applications in Sustainable Environmental Biotechnology

Fungi are distinct eukaryotic organisms renowned for their remarkable biodiversity and extensive range of habitats. Many fungal species have long been exploited for food and medicines. This volume considers other important applications of fungal biotechnology especially in an environmental context, showcasing the essential contributions of these amazingly versatile organisms. It explores how fungi offer sustainable solutions to tackle various environmental concerns. Written by eminent experts in their fields, this work presents a broad array of current advances and future prospects in fungal environmental biotechnology and discusses their limitations and potential. The book is organized in five parts, each addressing a theme of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG): strengthen food security (Zero Hunger), wastewater treatment (Clean Water & Sanitation), pollution reduction (Life on Land), biofuel production (Affordable & Clean Energy) and biosynthesis of novel biomolecules (Responsible Consumption & Production).

Diane Purchase received her BSc and PhD in Microbiology from King’s College London. She has over 20 years of research experience in academia and is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Science and Technology at Middlesex University in London. She is the Honorary Secretary of the Committee of Heads of Environmental Sciences in the UK and a Fellow of the Institution of Environmental Sciences. She has a long-held interest in the environmental applications of microorganisms and belongs to many microbiological and environmental organisations, such as the British Mycological Society, American Society for Microbiology, International Society for Microbial Ecology and Institution of Environmental Sciences. Diane has over 60 publications in peer-reviewed journals, conference papers and book chapters. She is the coordinating editor of Environmental Geochemistry and Health, a Springer Nature journal, and the co-editor of Microbial Applications – Recent Advancements and Future Developments, published by De Gruyter. She also serves as reviewer of numerous journals, including: Critical Reviews in Biotechnology, FEMS Microbiology Reviews, Journal of Hazardous Materials, PLoS ONE and Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. Diane is committed to promoting sustainability through her research and teaching. She currently chairs an International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) task group to examine the environmental and health challenges of E-waste and its management.