Photosynthesis at the forefront of a sustainable life

The development of a sustainable biobased economy has drawn much attention in recent years, and research to find smart solutions to the many inherent challenges has intensified. In nature, perhaps the best example of an authentic sustainable system is oxygenic photosynthesis. The biochemistry of this intricate process is empowered by solar radiation in flux and performed by hierarchically organized complexes composed by ptoreceptors, inorganic catalysts, an denzymes which defines pecific niches for optimizing light-to-energy conversion. The success of this process relies on its capability to exploit the almost inexhaustible reservoirs of sunlight, water, andc arbondioxide to transform photonic energy into chemical energy such as stored in adenosine triphosphate. Oxygenic photosynthesisis responsible for most of the oxygen, fossil fuels, and biomass on our planet. So, even after a few billion years of evolution, this process unceasingly supports life on earth, and probably soon also in outer-space, and inspires the development of enabling technologies for a sustainable global economy and ecosystem. The following review covers some of the major milestones reached in photosynthesis research, each reflecting lasting routes of innovation in agriculture, environmental protection, and clean energy production.