# Emerging Trends in Sustainable Biological Resources and Bioeconomy for Food Production
## 1 Introduction  
### Context of the Global Problem  
Global population growth is one of the most pressing challenges of the 21 st century, with profound implications for the sustainability of biological resources and global food security. The world's population has now surpassed 8 billion people and is expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, according to United Nations estimates [1]. This increase is putting unprecedented pressure on food production systems and the ecosystems that support them, threatening both the capacity of natural resources and the stability of the economies that depend on them [2]. The intensification of agricultural production to meet future food needs has led to an expansion of arable land and intensive use of soils, resultingin the degradation of ecosystems, loss of biodiversity, and depletion of water resources. Agriculture, which already accounts for about 70% of global freshwater use and a third of greenhouse gas emissions, urgently needs to shift to more sustainable models to avoid overshooting planetary boundaries [3,4].  
Climate change is profoundly altering agricultural production systems around the world, directly affecting the availability of essential biological resources for human food [5]. As global temperatures continue to rise, rainfall patterns are becoming more erratic and extreme weather events such as droughts, floods, and heat waves are intensifying. These changes affect crop productivity, alter natural growing cycles, and degrade the ecosystems that support agriculture. In addition, biodiversity loss, exacerbated by climate change, threatens the stability of agricultural ecosystems and the ecological services they provide, such as pollination and natural pest control [6].  
Transforming food production for a sustainable future requires both technological innovation and systemic reform. Key strategies include adopting precision agriculture to reduce resource waste, promoting mixed and intercropping systems to improve soil health and resilience, and scaling up soilless methods like hydroponics, aquaponics, and vertical farming for efficient year-round production. Enhancing post-harvest infrastructure--such as cold storage and rural logistics--can significantly cut food losses. These advancements must be supported by public policies that incentivize sustainable practices, invest in research, and protect smallholders. Additionally, reforming markets and supply chains to support local food systems and improve traceability is essential to ensure efficiency, equity, and environmental integrity in future food systems. Similarly, the transition to a circular bioeconomy, based on the efficient use of biological resources and the reduction of the environmental impact of agriculture, is emerging as a viable alternative to ensure food security in an uncertain future [7].  
Sustainable biological resources offer strategic solutions to mitigate these pressures and support long-term human development. These resources--such as insect protein, algae, mycobacteria, and plant-based alternatives--can reduce dependence on resource-intensive systems like livestock farming, which require large amounts of water, feed, and land.