National climate policies in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are potentially challenged by cross-border pollution spillovers that shift environmental impacts to neighboring countries. Using spatial econometric models applied to panel data for 38 SSA countries over the period 1996–2021, this study examines the interaction between renewable energy adoption, governance quality, and CO₂ emissions. The results reveal a governance paradox. Improvements in institutional quality are associated with a negative but statistically insignificant domestic effect, while stronger governance is associated with higher emissions in neighboring countries, a pattern consistent with pollution displacement (indirect effect: +0.308, p < 0.01). In contrast, renewable energy consumption generates a significant negative cross-border externality, lowering emissions both domestically and in neighboring countries (indirect effect: −0.142, p < 0.05). These findings highlight the limitations of nationally isolated mitigation strategies in a region characterized by strong spatial interdependence and underscore the importance of coordinated regional approaches to clean energy deployment and environmental governance in SSA.
The rapid transition towards sustainable energy systems has led to the growing prominence of Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) worldwide. As nations strive to meet ambitious net-zero targets, REZs have emerged as strategic hubs that consolidate large-scale renewable resources, such as solar, wind, and hydro, within designated geographic areas. These zones are designed to optimise infrastructure investment, streamline grid integration, and enhance energy security while reducing reliance on fossil fuels. When multiple REZs are available, selecting the optimal site for a given project becomes a complex decision-making challenge. Each site presents varying advantages in terms of resource availability, infrastructure readiness, grid connectivity, environmental impact, and economic feasibility. To address this complexity, this project introduces a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) framework that systematically evaluates and ranks potential REZs based on key technical, economic, environmental, and social factors. By integrating quantitative data analysis with qualitative expert judgment, this framework offers a structured and transparent approach to site selection, ensuring that renewable energy investments are strategically placed to maximise efficiency, sustainability, and long-term viability. As a demonstration, 43 REZs across Australia were evaluated using four MCDM methods (TOPSIS, VIKOR, SAW, and ELECTRE). Queensland’s Darling Downs consistently achieved the highest ranking due to its exceptional solar and wind potential, robust infrastructure, and favourable climatic conditions, while the North Queensland Clean Energy Hub demonstrated the strongest overall investment potential. These results emphasise the need to balance economic viability, environmental sustainability, and infrastructure readiness in REZ selection.
Accurate global characterization of urban morphology is essential for urban climate modeling but remains fundamentally constrained by spectral ambiguity and the opaque, "black-box" nature of machine learning. This study presents an interpretable, multi-sensor data fusion framework for mapping urban morphological archetypes by coupling Sentinel-1 SAR and Sentinel-2 multispectral imagery across 20 cities spanning six continents. Utilizing a dataset of 60,000 samples, we operationalize a functional aggregation of the Local Climate Zone taxonomy into three distinct archetypes: Dense Organic, Dense Formal, and Open Sprawl. To overcome pixel-level classification limitations, we developed an optimized Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) model integrated with spatial smoothing to capture neighborhood-scale structural context, achieving a high overall accuracy of 81.35% and a Cohen's Kappa of 0.697. The framework was rigorously validated through hierarchical feature clustering and unsupervised K-means alignment to mitigate a priori classification bias. Quantitative thermal analysis leveraging Landsat 8/9 data confirmed that the mapped archetypes correspond to statistically unique surface thermal regimes (p < 0.001), reinforcing their climatic relevance. Explainable AI (SHAP) analytics successfully decoded the model's internal decision logic, identifying short-wave infrared (SWIR) reflectance and smoothed cross-polarized radar backscatter (VH_smooth) as globally consistent structural fingerprints. Furthermore, regional diagnostics revealed a substantially greater reliance on structural radar metrics within the Global South (Africa: 51.8%; Asia: 40.3%) relative to Oceania (11.5%), with Europe exhibiting the highest overall reliance (56.1%), underscoring the limitations of optical-only approaches. This research provides a transparent, scalable methodology for urban canopy parameterization, bridging the divide between remote sensing analytics and physical urban climate theory to support evidence-based mitigation worldwide.
This work presents the synthesis and evaluation of phytic acid–cerium composite coatings with anticorrosive properties on AZ91D magnesium alloy. The coatings were formed by a simple one-step electrochemical process from a single solution combining phytic acid and cerium ions, aiming to enhance corrosion resistance in a simulated physiological environment. The influence of two different cerium salt concentrations in the phytic acid coating bath on the corrosion behavior was investigated. The results demonstrate that the incorporation of 10 mM Ce(NO₃)₃ into the phytic acid bath reduces the corrosion current density by approximately five orders of magnitude compared to the uncoated alloy. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy revealed the development of a self-healing behavior, attributed to the deposition of corrosion products and cerium-based compounds on the substrate surface. Furthermore, the modification of the phytic acid-cerium coating with silver nanoparticles imparted notable antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Overall, this study reports the formation of a phytic acid–cerium composite coating obtained in a single step from a combined solution and applied to a magnesium-based alloy, offering a simple strategy for corrosion protection and functional surface modification of Mg alloys.
Water pollution resulting from the release of dye contaminated wastewater poses a serious threat to aquatic ecosystems and human health. Sunlight-based water treatment is an emerging method of sustainability practice. This study proposes the use of persulfate-based advanced oxidation processes for the degradation of a dye pollutant, using trypan blue (TB), an azo dye, as a model pollutant. The degradation was carried out under natural sunlight by adding persulfate to the dye solution. The effect of parameters such as light intensity (sunny weather, cloudy weather, and dark conditions), varying persulfate concentration, initial pH conditions, and co-existing inorganic matrices on the degradation efficiency was investigated. At a PS concentration of 10 mM, the degradation of TB was increased from about 28% under ambient room conditions to 60% under cloudy conditions and 88% under direct sunlight at 60 min, explaining the strong influence of irradiation conditions and indicating that higher PS doses enhanced the generation of reactive radicals and consequently improved the process performance. Increasing the PS concentration to 25 mM enhanced the degradation to about 99%, while only about 22% degradation was observed under direct sunlight without PS. An efficient degradation of about 99% was achieved under sunny weather when the PS concentration was 25 mM. pH is an important parameter that controls the degradation efficiency, and both alkaline and acidic pH favoured practical degradation of TB. The transformation of reactive species caused the difference in degradation. Among the selected inorganic ions, sulfate ions, didn't show much impact on degradation, while chloride and nitrate ions showed an inhibitory effect on degradation. However, carbonate ions enhanced the degradation of TB under the same conditions. In short, sunlight-driven PS activation is an effective and sustainable method for TB with potential applicability to a broad spectrum of recalcitrant organic pollutants in wastewater treatment systems, suggesting its strong dependence on solar irradiance and its potential as sustainable, catalyst-free treatment technology for dye-contaminated wastewater.
This work discusses the sustainable approach to fabricating clay-based ceramic membranes by exploring and integrating low-cost, locally abundant raw materials, such as fuller’s earth clay (FEC) and sugarcane bagasse ash (SBA). These raw materials were systematically characterized using XRD, XRF, SEM-EDX, PSD, FTIR, and TG-DTA. The uniaxial dry-pressing method is used to fabricate membranes with 100% FEC as M1, 95% FEC and 5% SBA as M2, and 90% FEC and 10% SBA as M3, followed by sintering at 850 °C. Furthermore, the fabricated membranes are characterized by physical properties such as shrinkage, porosity, chemical stability, permeability, and pore size, as well as by essential spectroscopic and microscopic analyses. A reduction in shrinkage (13.5–9.4%), an increase in porosity (36.5% to 39.1%), and good resistance to acidic (2.22–2.77%) and basic conditions (0.54–0.7%) were observed in fabricated membranes. The membrane morphology was highly porous, with pore sizes ranging from 0.365 to 0.85 µm, indicating potential suitability for microfiltration applications. The cost estimate indicated that membranes fabricated using FEC and SBA can cost as little as $54/m2, substantially lower than those of commercially available membranes.
Hydrogen ion generation from agricultural farming waste is emerging as a sustainable and environmentally friendly energy source that offers a feasible substitute for fossil fuels. This analysis examined the potential of diverse agricultural residues, including maize straw, sugarcane bagasse, and rice husk, for biohydrogen production. It offers a comprehensive examination of several pretreatment techniques, including physical, chemical, and biological methods, to improve biomass digestibility and hydrogen production. The focus is on dark- and photo-fermentation methods and integrated fermentation approaches, which enhance biohydrogen production by maximizing substrate utilization. This study examines the critical elements influencing hydrogen production, such as pH, retention duration, and temperature, as well as advancements in bioreactor design. Economic assessments demonstrated the advantages and market demand for biohydrogen, highlighting its significance in meeting energy requirements and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. Notwithstanding the present difficulties in increasing production capacity, technological innovations in pretreatment and fermentation processes are expected to enhance efficiency and reduce expenses. The analysis concludes with a perspective on forthcoming problems and the critical importance of biohydrogen for promoting global sustainable energy objectives.
The transportation sector accounts for approximately 21% of global CO2 emissions (≈8.4Gt CO2 in 2024), and the electrification of road transport is a critical lever for decarbonisation. Annual global EV battery deployment reached 1.2TWh in 2025, making accurate battery health monitoring essential for both performance and sustainability. This review, conducted via a PRISMA-based protocol over 531 peer-reviewed studies (2018–2026), provides a statistical meta-analysis of all major AI families deployed in battery management: classical machine learning, ensemble methods, deep sequential networks, hybrid CNN architectures, Transformers, Physics-Informed ML (PIML), Explainable AI (XAI), Federated Learning, and Large Battery Foundation Models. A DerSimonian–Laird random-effects meta-analysis with 95% confidence intervals and I2 heterogeneity statistics confirms that CNN–LSTM achieves a pooled RMSE of 0.47% (95% CI: 0.41%–0.53%, d=3.42 vs EKF baseline) and Transformer architectures reach 0.42% (0.36%–0.48%, d=3.78). The Foundation Model group, based on only nine studies at TRL 2–3, yields a preliminary pooled RMSE of 0.42% that is sensitivity-dependent on a single influential study; this figure should not be directly compared with the more robustly supported Transformer estimate. Critical limitations of all emerging methods are explicitly characterised. Environmental and social impacts of battery energy systems, including CO2 lifecycle analysis, are discussed. An author-proposed five-layer Autonomous Battery Intelligence Pyramid is presented as a speculative research roadmap, with a dedicated implementation pathway discussion, clearly distinguished throughout from experimentally validated findings.
Global increase in motorization and rapid urbanization has made this sector, a significant contributor to the air pollution and developing countries like India follow the same trend with a higher intensity. The present study attempts a detailed assessment of vehicular emission trends in India with studies conducted in Bhubaneswar, a Tier - II smart city. The study involves questionnaire survey, videography techniques along with a bottom-up activity-based framework incorporating empirical fleet age distributions and Bharat Stage (BS) standards to encompass local field traffic conditions. Questionnaire survey was conducted to examine vehicle age and emission-standards of vehicles. Using IPCC guidelines and the field based framework, the emission parameters - Average Fuel Usage, Fuel Consumption, and Total Pollutant Emission were estimated, by considering traffic volume, mileage, and emission standards. Results showcased that real-world emissions are characterized by vehicle type, occupancy, and fuel efficiency. Two-wheelers despite exhibiting lower per-capita emission, contribute to the second highest emission among private vehicles (11.98 g of CO and 7.18 g of HC+NOx). 4Ws exhibit the highest Per-Passenger Emission Intensity (g/person-km), due to low occupancy and higher space. Heavy vehicles (buses) emit lowest Per-Passenger Emission Intensity (g/person-km) (0.11 g CO and 0.05 g HC+NOx). Multi-model time-series forecasting indicates that the EV traffic share in Bhubaneswar is projected to rise from 7% to a range of 10.5% - 13.8% over the next five years. For every 1% increase in the EV fleet share, an average of 43.4 g of combined criteria pollutants is saved per kilometer traveled across city corridors. While a complete modal shift to high-occupancy buses provides the highest per-passenger efficiency (>99% reduction), even a shift of 10%-25% from private vehicles to buses will lead to pollutant savings of 7.4–18.5%. The study reflects the requirement of strategic planning for EV adoption and shifts to public transportation for sustainable future.
The study presents a revised seismic source model for southeastern Ghana through the integration of geological, tectonic and seismological datasets spanning the period 1615 – 2021. Historical earthquake records obtained from the Ghana Seismological Department and previous catalogs were harmonized into moment magnitude (Mw) and declustered to produce a catalog of 629 independent seismic events. Geological and fault datasets were integrated with earthquake epicenters using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to delineate and characterize active seismic source zones. Three seismic source zones (A, B and C) were identified based on similarities in tectonic setting, fault distribution and seismicity patterns. Seismicity parameters were estimated using the Gutenberg-Richter frequency-magnitude relationship and the Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) method to evaluate earthquake recurrence behavior and tectonic stress conditions. The results revealed that seismic activity is strongly controlled by the reactivation of inherited crustal structures associated with the Romanche and St. Paul’s fracture systems, particularly along the Akwapim Fault Zone and the Coastal Boundary Fault. Zones A (Accra Region) and B (Gulf of Guinea) exhibited the highest concentration of earthquakes and fault density, while Zone C (Ho Region) recorded fewer events, but lower b-values, indicating higher stress accumulation and greater potential for relatively larger earthquakes. The Gutenberg-Richter analysis yielded b-values of approximately 0.60, 0.60, and 0.40 for Zones A, B, and C, respectively, while the MLE derived b-values were 0.93, 0.93, and 0.86. The proposed seismic source model provides a more realistic representation of seismic hazard conditions in southeastern Ghana and offers an improved framework for probabilistic seismic hazard assessment, infrastructure planning and disaster risk reduction.
Ammonium (NH₄⁺) contamination in aquatic environments has surfaced as an urgent environmental and public health concern because of its toxicity, effects on eutrophication, and contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. Traditional treatment approaches to remediate ammonium are effective but complicated by cost, scalability, and operational stability challenges. Biomass-derived carbon materials and graphene oxide (GO)-based composites represent sustainable alternatives for the removal of ammonium through adsorption and then electrochemical reduction. Whereas earlier reviews have considered the topics of adsorption and electrochemical remediation separately, this review takes an integrative approach by critically discussing the two processes through composite materials that combine biomass-derived carbon with graphene oxide. This paper contrasts various activation approaches, material characteristics, adsorption capabilities, electrocatalytic activity, regenerability, and scale-up, and points out the most important relationships and gaps in knowledge regarding this transition from the lab to practical wastewater treatment. The review highlights activation strategies, hybrid material conceptualization, adsorption isotherms and kinetics, as well as catalytic electron transfer processes. Industrial information was discussed, such as technological and economic feasibility, also including Agri-waste valorization and acidic and alkaline additives in GO for scalable treatment applications. Despite some promising developments, continued work is needed on long-term electrode stability, regeneration, and in the context of real wastewater applications. It is evident from the review that composite materials made from biomass-based carbon and GO have synergistic properties to achieve ammonium cleanup through their high adsorption capability, electron transfer efficiency, and enhanced ability to regenerate. The review provides an integrated strategy of adsorption and electroreduction approach that can be used to remove nitrogen efficiently in line with the principles of circular economy and sustainability.
Mangrove islands experience combined pressures from changes to their shores, conversion of land for agriculture, and declining blue carbon storage. Still fewer researchers look at these processes combined. For this land cover classification, the study area Nijhum Dwip, Bangladesh was examined using Landsat 5 TM (1990) and Landsat 8 OLI (2020) at 30 m resolutions. The study mapped out seven land-use and land-cover classes (LULC), extracted the shorelines using NDWI and MNDWI measurement and assessed shoreline changes using Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) with a Net Shoreline Movement (NSM), End Point Rate (EPR) and Long-term Rate of Change (LRR) and assessment of carbon stocks using InVEST carbon model. Between 1990 and 2010, the mangrove area diminished by over 8.34 km². Built-up land area occupied only 0.10 km² in 1990 but expanded to 0.51 km² in 2020. Besides, mudflat area increased by about 12.30 km² during the 1990–2010 period but then fell below 10 km² by 2020. The southern shoreline experienced the strongest retreat, which exceeded 500 m in some sections. Overall, the long-term average shoreline erosion rate was about 22 m yr⁻¹ . The northern segments acquired land via sedimentation. Carbon stores in mangroves have fallen from about 4093.19 Mg(C) in 1990–2640.09 Mg(C) in 2010, before recovering to about 3327.24 Mg(C) in 2020. The study adds a new spatial framework linking multi-decadal land-use change, shoreline dynamics, and modeled carbon variation on a small deltaic island. The results indicate that newly gained land will not always lead to a net increase in blue carbon, as it takes time for new mudflats to stabilize and become sufficiently protected prior to the establishment of mangroves. The existing mangroves must be protected and their conversion restricted. Corridors for their migration must also be conserved. The restoration of mangroves must be prioritized on stable mudflats and accreting margins for long-term climate resilience.
Rapid urbanization and infrastructure development are contributing to increases in the Urban Heat Island (UHI) phenomenon, especially in hot-humid areas. Urban thermal environments have undergone dramatic alterations due to reduced vegetation cover and increased anthropogenic heat emissions. This study integrates urban morphology with Local Climate Zone (LCZ) classification to investigate the spatiotemporal comparison of Surface Urban Heat Island (SUHI) in Vellore, India, a rapidly growing secondary city. Multi-temporal Landsat data (2005, 2015, 2024) were used to derive Land Surface Temperature (LST) and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), while SSTA (Standardised Surface Thermal Anomaly) was compared between built-up LCZs and the LCZ-D rural reference class. The research shows that high-density built-up zones exhibit significantly higher LST and SUHI intensities than their vegetated counterparts. A sharp increase in both spatial expansion and intensification over time corresponded to growing urban densification of hot spots. Results are consistent with shift from vegetation-driven to morphology associated thermal behaviors, illustrating the enhanced importance of urban form in heat distribution. Planning based on LCZ, such as a move to open low-rise and mid-rise forms, can also improve ventilation and reduce accumulation of heat, underpinning climate-responsive urban development in line with Sustainable Development Goals 11 and 13.
Soybean (Glycine max L.) is a worldwide important crop because it is a rich source of oil and protein that is essential for food security and sustainability. However, soybean production faces certain challenges from climate change, biotic and abiotic stressors, and environmental degradation. This review highlights recent advances in genomic technologies, and interactions with microbes, as well as climate resilience to achieve sustainable production of soybean. We reviewed genomic sequencing, gene editing and multi-omics to develop new traits, also we go through how beneficial microbes can help with nutrient acquisition, stress and tolerance, and disease control and management. The integrated agronomic practices such as conservation agriculture, bio-fertilizers, and precision agriculture used for soybean production has been studied. The future research directions, including microbiome engineering, breeding for climate resilience, and data driven agriculture with emphasis on the value of interdisciplinary collaboration for the future of soybean production has been highlighted. The study provides a comprehensive overview that outlines research priorities for academics, scientists and policy makers interested in sustainable and climate-resilient soybean production.
This study examines the synoptic-scale circulation patterns, orographic influences, and dynamic drivers responsible for extremely heavy rainfall (daily rainfall ≥ 204.5 mm) episodes over Bihar, India, during 3–4 October 2025, in the late withdrawal phase of the Southwest Monsoon (SWM). Rainfall escalated rapidly from localized heavy rainfall (64.5–115.5 mm) events on 2 October to extremely heavy rainfall on 3–4 October, with maximum recordings of 324.6 mm at Maharajganj (Siwan) and 385.0 mm at Saraigarh–Bhaptiyahi (Supaul), causing widespread flooding across the Kosi and Mahananda river basins with significant losses to crops, infrastructure, and livelihoods. A residual upper-tropospheric cyclonic circulation from a quasi-stationary Bay of Bengal deep depression served as the principal catalyst, sustaining persistent low-level south-westerly flow (850–700 hPa) that transported moisture-laden air (specific humidity >16 g/kg) with precipitable water values exceeding 60 mm. Low-level wind convergence (>10⁻⁶ s⁻¹) over the Gangetic Plains, combined with terrain-perpendicular winds exceeding 8 m/s at 850 hPa, generated sustained orographic lifting under conditionally unstable conditions (Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE) > 1500 J/kg). The system's quasi-stationary nature maintained a persistent mesoscale convective pattern for over 36 h, facilitating extreme accumulations. River discharge data confirmed peak flows exceeding the 95th percentile with recession periods of 24–72 h. The findings demonstrate that late-monsoon extreme rainfall over Bihar results from the coupled interaction of quasi-stationary synoptic forcing, continuous maritime moisture replenishment, and orographic enhancement—underscoring the critical need for improved impact-based early warning and flood-risk management frameworks.
Over the past six decades, global oil crop production has expanded substantially to meet escalating demands for food, feed, and biofuels. However, studies have often overlooked the relative contribution underlying this production growth, and how they vary among crops with contrasting level of pollinator dependence. This study quantified the relative contributions of area expansion, yield improvement and structural adjustment to global oil crop production growth for 15 major oil crops from 1961 to 2023, employing a Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) decomposition approach. We compared production growth pathways among oil crops classified into two groups with relatively higher and lower pollinator dependence based on established criteria. Over this period, global oil crop production has increased by 789%, with production becoming increasingly dominated by a few crops, notably soybean, rapeseed and oil palm. Both production and yield growth were greater among the relatively lower pollinator-dependent crops, whereas relatively higher pollinator-dependent crops exhibited greater contributions from cultivated area expansion. The decomposition analysis reveals area expansion was the primary driver of overall production growth (52%), particularly for higher pollinator-dependent crops (61%). In contrast, production growth in lower pollinator-dependent crops was more evenly attributed to area expansion (34%), yield improvement (34%), and structural adjustment (32%). These results demonstrate that the long-term expansion of global oil crop production has been predominantly area-driven, particularly for higher pollinator-dependent crops showing a greater contribution from area expansion than relatively lower pollinator-dependent crops. These contrasting production growth patterns highlights potential tensions between agricultural expansion and sustainable land use. Our findings highlight the importance of considering pollination services in efforts to achieve sustainable agricultural development and long-term food security.
The renewed interest for straw-based cattle housing systems, driven by concerns over animal health and welfare in conventional cubicle barns, has increased the importance of naturally ventilated sloping-floor and other litter barns. However, these housing systems contribute substantially to anthropogenic ammonia (NH3) and greenhouse gaseous emissions. Therefore, this study evaluated the effectiveness of zeolite, lava meal and sandy soil as bedding additives for mitigating gaseous emissions from the sloping-floor barn. Four barn units, each housing eight young beef bulls, were assigned to one of four treatments: (i) control with straw application at rate of 5 kg livestock unit (LU)−1 day−1, and straw applied at the same rate (5 kg LU−1 day−1) supplemented with (ii) zeolite, (ii) lava meal and (iii) sandy soil at rates of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.65 kg LU⁻¹ day⁻¹ , respectively. Gaseous emissions were quantified through static flux chamber, while total N (TN) losses were calculated through mass balance approach based on differences between TN of inputs and outputs. All bedding additives mitigated NH3 emissions by 85% than control; however, had no effect on CH4 emissions. The TN losses were decreased by 23, 37 and 50% with lava meal, sandy soil and zeolite, respectively. Overall, measured N emissions through NH3-N and N2O-N from the barn was 11% of TN losses while remainder 89% was most probably attributed to di-nitrogen (N2), a harmless gas. Overall, zeolite was most effective additive to mitigate CO2, N2O and NH3, whereas sandy soil provides cheap and readily available resource for reducing NH3 emissions.
The sustainable production of valorizable bacterial metabolites, such as carotenoids, using inexpensive substrates or waste materials, including agrowaste, faces several challenges. Research in this area needs to gain momentum to achieve green goals for a better tomorrow. Efficient bacterial strains from diverse natural sources must be identified to contribute to the green and economically suitable production of carotenoids using waste agrobiomass. The current investigation focuses on the current state of research, highlighting key findings and exploring the gaps in research that hinder the commercialization of these bioprocesses. The global carotenoid market is in rapid expansion due to its extensive use across diverse sectors, including the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. Yet synthesis of carotenoids remains largely dependent on chemical methods that are expensive and lack sustainability. A detailed bibliometric analysis of reports from 2000 to 2026 (March) reveals the current status of reports and identifies relevant areas that require attention. The significance of lignocellulose-based agrowaste materials as a storehouse of nutrients for generating value-added products has been discussed, and the involvement of advanced fermentation technology in process optimization has been elaborated in this compilation. In silico analysis revealed predictive pathways leading to successful carotenoid synthesis and identified possible genes involved in these metabolic pathways. A comparative approach to different downstream processing techniques has been proposed, clearly distinguishing the steps and tools required for final product recovery, followed by physicochemical analysis to ensure product quality and purity. This study elucidates the economic relevance and practical implications of these processes in the present global scenario. Numerous reports have demonstrated that individual agro-industrial wastes can serve as substrates for carotenoid production using various microorganisms. But a holistic representation of these reports, along with bibliometric trend analysis, metabolic pathway prediction, advanced fermentation strategies, and techno-economic feasibility, makes this work a one-of-a-kind. This review report can serve as a valuable source of insights and as guidance for future researchers interested in exploring the potential of various agro-wastes as substrates for the sustainable production of bioactive carotenoids.
