Decarbonizing waste: Building tomorrow's biorefinery beyond biogas.

Advances in microbial ecology and process engineering are transforming anaerobic digestion into a versatile biomanufacturing platform capable of producing high-value bio-based compounds beyond biogas.

• Why it matters: This shift addresses the urgent need for sustainable, circular, and low-carbon systems by expanding the traditional role of anaerobic digestion in resource recovery and energy production.
• What they did: The authors review developments in microbial ecology and process engineering, highlighting the potential of anaerobic digestion to produce biofuels, single-cell proteins, methanol, microalgal products, and other chemicals in next-generation biorefineries.
• The result: This evolution positions anaerobic digestion as a central technology in future bioeconomies, enabling sustainable biomanufacturing and resource recovery strategies that support climate goals and circular economies.