Exploring effective light spectral conversion techniques for enhanced production of Spirulina-derived blue pigment protein, c-phycocyanin

[Display omitted] •Spirulina is a valuable source of C-PC (14–20 %), which is available at $27–215 mg−1.•Utilizing blue light spectra of ∼ 450 nm enhances C-PC synthesis.•Solar conversion to specific spectral range is economical in commercial cultivation.•Light filtering sheets would be profitable for C-PC production in open ponds. Spirulina is a promising feedstock for c-phycocyanin, a blue pigment-protein, commercially incorporated in many food products for its desirable bright blue attributes, exceptional bioavailability, and inherent therapeutic properties. Remarkably, enhancing c-phycocyanin synthesis in Spirulina would facilitate economic viability and sustainability at large-scale production, as the forecasted market value is $ 409.8 million by 2030. Notably, the lighting source plays a key role in enhancing c-phycocyanin in Spirulina, and thus, strategies to filter/concentrate the photons of respective wavelengths, influencing light spectra, are beneficial. Enveloping open raceway ponds and greenhouses by luminescent solar concentrators and light filtering sheets enables solar spectral conversion of the sunlight at desirable wavelengths, emerges as a promising strategy to enhance synthesis of c-phycocyanin in Spirulina. Nevertheless, the conduction of techno-economic assessments and evaluation of scalability at large-scale cultivation of Spirulina are essential for the real-time implementation of lighting strategies.