The power of microbial life for the transformation towards a sustainable planet: key messages from the 2024 IUMS Congress in Florence, the city of the Renaissance

The 2024 International Union of Microbiological Societies Congress was held in Florence, the city of Renaissance. The theme was to increase the awareness of the power of microbial life, recognizing that it can lead the transformation towards a sustainable planet. The meeting gathered over 1400 experts from more than 90 countries and focused on the transformative potential of microbiology in addressing global challenges and aligning microbial science with the Sustainable Development Goals. Six roundtable discussions explored the pivotal role of microbiology in mitigating climate change, preparing for pandemics, producing sustainable energy, promoting a One Health approach, understanding microbiome dynamics, and developing data infrastructure. The discussions revealed that microbes are still overlooked agents in sustainable solutions. Expert panellists at the roundtables discussed microbial innovations in hydrogen and biofuel production, conversion of greenhouse gases, biomanufacturing, and soil restoration, the role of microbiome in immune health, the importance of cross-kingdom interactions, and the integration of food, environmental, and microbiomes under the One Health framework. Panels stressed the need for equitable access to vaccines, diagnostics, and data sharing, especially in the face of antimicrobial resistance. The importance of global collaboration, data repositories, and regulatory alignment, was repeatedly emphasized. The congress invited calls for the formation of an international microbiology coalition, need for interdisciplinary partnerships, increased investment in microbial technologies, updating of regulatory frameworks, and integration of microbiome science into public health and environmental policy. Microorganisms are the oldest architects of nature, able to build a sustainable future for the planet.