Numerous harmful chemicals are introduced every year in the environment through anthropogenic and geological activities raising global concerns of their ecotoxicological effects and decontamination strategies. Biochar technology has been recognized as an important pillar for recycling of biomass, contributing to the carbon capture and bioenergy industries, and remediation of contaminated soil, sediments and water. This paper aims to critically review the application potential of biochar with a special focus on the synergistic and antagonistic effects on contaminant-degrading microorganisms in single and mixed-contaminated systems. Owing to the high specific surface area, porous structure, and compatible surface chemistry, biochar can support the proliferation and activity of contaminant-degrading microorganisms. A combination of biochar and microorganisms to remove a variety of contaminants has gained popularity in recent years alongside traditional chemical and physical remediation technologies. The microbial compatibility of biochar can be improved by optimizing the surface parameters so that toxic pollutant release is minimized, biofilm formation is encouraged, and microbial populations are enhanced. Biocompatible biochar thus shows potential in the bioremediation of organic contaminants by harboring microbial populations, releasing contaminant-degrading enzymes, and protecting beneficial microorganisms from immediate toxicity of surrounding contaminants. This review recommends that biochar-microorganism co-deployment holds a great potential for the removal of contaminants thereby reducing the risk of organic contaminants to human and environmental health.

Insect pollination establishes an ecosystem service around the globe, providing compelling budgetary and creative profits along with developmental values to humans and vital eco-friendly measures for the environment. It is, therefore, essential to understand how insect pollinator populations and communities respond to rapidly changing environments if we are to maintain healthy and effective pollinator services. Although insect pollinators are known to provide ecosystem services to more than 80% of the world’s flowering plants (including cultivated crops), a steep decline (∼20–40%) in their population has created an alarming situation for global biodiversity. Threats to bee populations in recent years have increased awareness about the critical role of pollinators for life on earth, as pollinators are predicted to persist only when all animal-pollinated plant species persist. Additionally, increased usage of chemical pesticides may result in the collapse of pollinators which leads to a decrease in food resource density and also facilitates the increasing isolation of natural habitats. So, to overcome pollinators’ decline, joint efforts of all stakeholders are needed to increase their numbers on the planet. We have to cut down the use of synthetic pesticides, ban highly toxic pesticides, tackle problems related to colony collapse disorder (CCD), climate change, habitat loss and provide much-needed help to the native pollinator species to revive their natural habitats. So, this paper aims to focus on appreciating the services of insect pollinators and rescuing them from the threats leading to their extinctions which in turn will help in enhancing global food production.

Organic and inorganic contaminants are entrained into environmental systems through natural and anthropogenic processes, such as mining activities, manufacturing, and waste disposal. In terrestrial and aquatic environments, the contaminant(s) remediation can be achieved by immobilization, thereby inhibiting their dispersal and bioavailability. Mobilization, through leaching and plant uptake, is another process of pollutant removal. Phytoremediation has attracted attention as an eco-friendly alternative for the remediation of contaminated environments. However, the safe management of post-phytoremediation contaminated biomass poses many practical challenges. Understanding the fate of the pollutants in the plants allows the estimation of the possible transfer of the contaminants to the food chain ascertain by-products or residues during biofuel production. Metal-enriched fractions could be used as a valuable source of novel catalysts or reusable materials. The safe conversion of biomass into energy may require sequestering contaminants at any step of the process, preferably upstream of the energy conversion or as a pre-treatment of plant biomass. Through gasification or pyrolysis of post-remediation biomass, bioenergy products (including syngas, oil, hydrogen gas, biochar, and hydrochar) can be used for heating and electricity generation. A comparative evaluation among pyrolysis, gasification, combustion, and liquefaction/fermentation processes for biofuel production from post-phytoremediation biomass suggests that pyrolysis is the strategy with the lowest transfer of toxic metals to the final products. This review presents critical discussions of the processes involved in phytoremediation of contaminated environments, the redistribution of contaminants within plant biomass, the sustainable management of post-phytoremediation biomass, and the unintended environmental consequences of phytoremediation.

Nanomaterials in the food industry are used as food additives, and the main function of these food additives is to improve food qualities including texture, flavor, color, consistency, preservation, and nutrient bioavailability. This review aims to provide an overview of the distribution, fate, and environmental and health impacts of food additive nanomaterials in soil and aquatic ecosystems. Some of the major nanomaterials in food additives include titanium dioxide, silver, gold, silicon dioxide, iron oxide, and zinc oxide. Ingestion of food products containing food additive nanomaterials via dietary intake is considered to be one of the major pathways of human exposure to nanomaterials. Food additive nanomaterials reach the terrestrial and aquatic environments directly through the disposal of food wastes in landfills and the application of food waste-derived soil amendments. A significant amount of ingested food additive nanomaterials (> 90 %) is excreted, and these nanomaterials are not efficiently removed in the wastewater system, thereby reaching the environment indirectly through the disposal of recycled water and sewage sludge in agricultural land. Food additive nanomaterials also reach the environments directly through the disposal of food wastes in landfills and the application of food waste-derived soil amendments. Food additive nanomaterials undergo various transformation and reaction processes, such as adsorption, aggregation-sedimentation, desorption, degradation, dissolution, and bio-mediated reactions in the environment. These processes significantly impact the transport and bioavailability of nanomaterials as well as their behaviour and fate in the environment. These nanomaterials are toxic to soil and aquatic organisms, and reach the food chain through plant uptake and animal transfer. The environmental and health risks of food additive nanomaterials can be overcome by eliminating their emission through recycled water and sewage sludge.