I'm not sure how well simulated alien biospheres are (IIRC it's just 'they exist and you can colonize them'), but biology tech could also handle hostile/incompatible biospheres, or the lack thereof.
I'd also like plagues and diseases just... being a thing that happens, and potentially impacting a world's population or economy while that's ongoing. I mean, textiles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, spices, luxury foods, wine, furs and recreational drugs are all definitely things that humanity is producing or is capable of producing with organisms right now. Even plastics (wax strictly speaking fits the definition) and construction materials (wood).
A disease could impact any of these in a positive or negative manner, potentially disrupt society in general resulting in a decrease in production efficiency, and so on. Even better if it's something that ramps up and down as it plays out.