Microbial Biotechnology is 15! An adventure in journal parenting

This year, 2022, Microbial Biotechnology (MBT) celebrates its 15th birthday. In journal terms, 15 is adulthood. It has been a privilege to develop the idea, launch the journal, nurture it in its infancy and stimulate and support it during its adolescence and early adulthood. The success of MBT – its growth over the last 4 years averaging > 30%, and the highest impact factor in the field, making it the leading research journal in applied microbiology/microbial biotechnology and the most attractive to publish in – gives us enormous pleasure and satisfaction, and not a little pride.

contributed to the editing of synthetic microbiology submissions.
The aim of MBT was not simply to passively publish work on applied microbiology but rather to actively stimulate and support the field, and steer it towards new and exciting topics, especially those involving original and/or synergistic multidisciplinary approaches. To accomplish this, MBT features not only primary research articles on any aspect of applied microbiology but also Special Issues on emerging topics. These are complemented and supported by MiniReviews and Editorials solicited from leading players. Exciting articles that we publish are frequently flagged up in Highlights that are now written or commissioned by the Highlights Editor, Carmen Michan. Every two years, we publish our Crystal Ball feature, in which leaders in the field speculate on the nature of the most important developments driving future advances (see, e.g. https://sfamjournals.onlinelibrary. wiley.com/toc/17517915/2019/12/1). This feature is not only very stimulating and a significant source of discussion, but also a lot of fun for both authors and readers. Juan Luis has made outstanding contributions to MBT as Special Issues and Minireviews Editor, in addition to his responsibility as a regular Editor.
In 2017, MBT published a Special Issue on The Contribution of Microbial Biotechnology to Sustainable Development Goals (http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ mbt2.2017.10.issue-5/issuetoc; https://sfamjournals. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/1751-7915.12818), which assessed the enormous potential of diverse fields of applied microbiology to contribute to attainment of most of the SDGs (i.e. SDG2,3,6,7,8,11,12,13,14,15). This Special Issue generated considerable interest, not only because it discussed, and revealed for the first time for some, how microbiology is currently impacting and will impact sustainability, thereby describing a framework for microbiology-centric sustainability research and action, but also encouraged and enabled young microbiologists to see their work in a wider context and its relevance to sustainability. This was a pioneering Special Issue that triggered a number of journals and microbiology societies to subsequently paint sustainability and the SDGs on their banners. Being at the helm of MBT for 15 years and having the fun of working with the leaders and soon-to-be leaders in the field, whether as Editors, Reviewers or Authors, reading about their exciting discoveries, and following their careers and the contributions they make and the recognition they receive, has provided us with enormous pleasure and satisfaction. But, 15 years is long enough and it is time for new blood and ideas so, as MBT enters its 15th year, we will cycle off. To some extent, we feel like Mum and Dad of both the Journal and the brilliant young things who fill it with exciting discoveries. And like mums and dads should, we rejoice, knowing that we are handing on a success story to the next generation.
And so we are absolutely delighted that Juan Luis accepted to become the new EiC! MBT is in the best possible hands: Juan Luis has some 30 years of continuous experience in editing top journals: first J. Bacteriol., then EMI and, from its launch, MBT. But, though impressive, it is not experience that is the most important quality he brings: he is a visionary, brilliant strategist, creative, has an enormous capacity for work, and is collegial, inclusive and persuasive, all of which enable him to get his visions realised. He has already placed his stamp on the future MBT with an excellent strategic plan and recruitment of two brilliant new, young and dynamic Editors-Sepideh Pakpour and Davinia Salvachua: welcome Davinia and Sepideh! Thank you Juan Luis for your wonderful partnership over the years. MBT will grow mightily under your leadership.

Dedication
This Editorial is dedicated to the wonderful Editors of MBT, the members of its Editorial Board, its ad hoc reviewers, its authors, and some special folk we call Friends of MBT, who generously provide council and highly original submissions,