Empowering Microalgae as the Sustainable Cell Factories for the Production of Valuable Metabolites

A growing global population, combined with shrinking arable land and depleting water resources, is placing increasing pressure on the sustainable supply of nutraceuticals. At the same time, consumers are shifting toward natural products over synthetic alternatives, driven by concerns about side effects and environmental impact. This underscores the need to develop microbial production systems capable of meeting rising global demand for nutritionally valuable metabolites.Among microbial platforms, photosynthetic microalgae have emerged as particularly promising hosts, owing to their versatile metabolism and inherent biotechnological advantages. The green alga Haematococcus lacustris, for example, is the leading natural producer of astaxanthin — a carotenoid with exceptional antioxidant activity — yet current production titers remain insufficient to meet market demand. More broadly, the commercial application of microalgae for nutritionally significant metabolites is constrained by similar bottlenecks. Addressing these barriers is essential to unlock the full biotechnological and commercial potential of microalgal systems for food and feed applications.This Research Topic includes, but is not limited to, the following themes: - Strain engineering and adaptive evolution strategies for enhanced metabolite production - Multi-omics approaches (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics) to elucidate metabolic regulation in microalgae - Genetic engineering and synthetic biology toolkits for optimization of metabolic pathways - Transcription factors and regulatory networks governing key metabolic nodes - Chemical modulators and signaling pathways influencing metabolite biosynthesis - CRISPR-based genome editing and emerging gene regulation technologies in microalgae - Application of artificial intelligence and machine learning for metabolic pathway prediction and optimization - Digital twins and predictive modeling for microalgal bioprocess design - Sustainable cultivation systems, including photobioreactor innovations and scale-up strategies - Integration of circular bioeconomy concepts, including waste valorization and carbon capture using microalgae - Downstream processing, extraction, purification, and stabilisation of microalgal bioactive compounds - Formulation and incorporation of microalgal metabolites into functional foods and nutraceutical products - Bioavailability, safety, and regulatory aspects of microalgal-derived compounds - Techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment of microalgal production systemsThis Research Topic seeks to bridge the gap between fundamental research and industrial application by integrating advances in molecular biology, systems biotechnology, and food science.By fostering interdisciplinary contributions, this collection aims to accelerate the development of sustainable, scalable, and economically viable microalgal production platforms, thereby supporting global efforts towards food security, climate resilience, and the transition to a circular bioeconomy. Topic editors: Balamurugan Srinivasan, Da-Wei Li, Bruntha Devi Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/79678/empowering-microalgae-as-the-sustainable-cell-factories-for-the-production-of-valuable-metabolites