WP7: Converting phototrophic biomass into value-added products

ACCeSS employs photosynthetic microorganisms such as Galdieria and cyanobacteria to capture carbon from wastewater and atmospheric CO₂ through the process of photosynthesis. Within WP7, the resulting biomass will be utilized by bacterial and eukaryotic hosts for the production of value-added compounds. For instance, the bacterial platform strain Corynebacterium glutamicum will be used to produce amino acids and proteins, while the fungus Ustilago maydis will generate biosurfactants, organic acids, and chitin. Adaptive laboratory evolution will be employed to increase the growth rate and substrate conversion on the algal biomass. In the long run, we also aim at co-cultivation strategies integrating photo- and heterotrophic partners, e.g. cyanobacteria and Ustilago maydis. This work package will provide blueprints for converting photosynthetic biomass into diverse bioproducts essential for pharmaceutical and building industries, supporting both carbon utilization and sequestration.