Satisfying the needs of the present in such a way that the opportunities of future generations are not restricted - this is how the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development defines the omnipresent concept of sustainability. The importance of sustainable action and economic activity has become widely accepted in society, but recent developments and crises have highlighted the need for further measures. The climate crisis with all its consequences, increasing scarcity of resources and global conflicts are just a few examples that underline this.
With the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda, the United Nations has created a programmatic framework for the realization of a global sustainable society. Technical innovations play a key role in this: they help to use resources more efficiently, reduce energy requirements, establish circular economies and develop environmentally friendly alternatives. For many years, Fraunhofer IOSB has been researching technologies that play a key role in achieving sustainability goals - in the areas of food production and agriculture, recycling and secure material supply, resilient water systems and energy supply. With this in mind, this issue is dedicated to our contribution to technologies for sustainability.
In a guest article, Christoph Hilgers explains the potential of using hyperspectral imaging for efficient and resource-saving mining. Paul Bäcker, Felix Kronenwett, Lukas Roming and Henning Schulte show how machine vision systems using AI processes can help solve current challenges in the recycling of construction waste, plastic, electrical appliances and bulky waste. Anna Taphorn, Pascal Gauweiler and Felix Kronenwett explain how these technologies can be used for the food production of tomorrow. Thomas Rauschenbach describes the development of hierarchical control structures for effective and sustainable aquaponics systems. Stefan Klaiber focuses on increasing the efficiency of a heating network operation.
For better classification, all articles are marked with the logos of the corresponding UN Sustainable Development Goals.
"Technologies for sustainability" is a forward-looking topic that will increasingly accompany us in the coming years.
We hope you enjoy reading our magazine and find it inspiring!
Fraunhofer Institute of Optronics, System Technologies and Image Exploitation IOSB 
