What is holding back cyanobacterial research and applications? A survey of the cyanobacterial research community
Nicolas Schmelling, Moritz Bross
Abstract
Cyanobacteria are a diverse group of prokaryotic organisms that have been the subject of intense basic research, resulting in a wealth of knowledge about fundamental cellular processes such as photosynthesis. However, the translation of that research towards industry-relevant applications is still limited. To understand the reasons for this contradictory situation, we conducted a quantitative survey among researchers in the cyanobacterial community, a set of individual interviews with established researchers, and a literature analysis. Our results show that the community seems to be committed to embracing cyanobacterial diversity and promoting collaboration. Additionally, participants expressed a strong desire to develop standardized protocols for research and establish larger consortia to accelerate progress. The results of the survey highlight the need for a more integrated approach to cyanobacterial research that encompasses both basic and applied aspects. Based on the survey and interview results as well as our literature analysis, we highlight areas for potential improvement, strategies to enhance cyanobacterial research, and open questions that demand further exploration. Addressing these challenges should accelerate the development of industrial applications based on cyanobacterial research. Cyanobacteria have been the subject of intense basic research, but translation towards industrial applications remains limited. Here, Schmelling and Bross conduct a survey among researchers in the cyanobacterial community, as well as a literature analysis, to highlight potential strategies to enhance cyanobacterial research and accelerate the development of industrial applications.