Bacterial Photosynthesis for Nutrient Recovery and Value Addition

Cyanobacteria have a high yield potential per-acre and are adaptable to environmental changes and can grow in different types of water resources. These organisms are extensively employed as model organisms in the field of research to investigate photosynthetic mechanisms and diverse responses to abiotic stress. Cyanobacteria play a significant role in providing a diverse range of primary and secondary metabolites that are utilized in many applications such as biofuels, biochemical synthesis, pharmaceuticals, biopesticides, therapeutics, coloring pigments, and food additives. Cyanobacteria also have the potential to sequester carbon dioxide and produce biohydrogen as an ideal energy carrier for future generations. Cyanobacteria produce PHAs directly from sunlight and CO2, with the dominant type being polyhydroxybutyrate. Cyanobacteria possess the ability to harness solar energy and produce electrical energy via light-dependent electrogenic activity in microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Cyanobacteria have gained recognition as a significant microorganism in the context of sustainable agricultural advancement, owing to their capacity to breakdown diverse contaminants and fulfill several functions within the soil ecosystem. Diazotrophes are a type of cyanobacteria that can generate eco-friendly biofertilizers, which are easily available and less costly than traditional chemical-based fertilizers. Cyanobacteria also play a critical role in maintaining and building soil fertility by making soil porous, improving water-holding capacity, controlling weeds growth, and increasing the availability of soil phosphate.