Engineering biology approaches for food and nutrient production by cyanobacteria

As photoautotrophic organisms, cyanobacteria capture and store solar energy in the form of biomass. Cyanobacterial biomass has been an important component of diet and nutrition in several regions for centuries. Synthetic biology strategies are currently being applied to increase the yield and productivity of cyanobacterial biomass by optimizing solar energy utilization and CO2 fixation rates for carbon storage. Likewise, engineering cyanobacteria as cellular factories to synthesize carbohydrates, amino acids, proteins, lipids and fatty acids is providing an attractive way to sustainably produce food and nutrients for human consumption. In this review, we have summarized recent progress in both aspects and prospective trends under development.