Cyanobacteria An Economic Perspective

Written by leading experts in the field, Cyanobacteria: AnEconomic Perspective is a comprehensive edited volume coveringall areas of an important field and its application to energy,medicine and agriculture. Issues related to environment, food and energy have presentedserious challenge to the stability of nation-states. Increasingglobal population, dwindling agriculture and industrial production,and inequitable distribution of resources and technologies havefurther aggravated the problem. The burden placed by increasingpopulation on environment and especially on agriculturalproductivity is phenomenal. To provide food and fuel to such amassive population, it becomes imperative to find new ways andmeans to increase the production giving due consideration tobiosphere’s ability to regenerate resources and provideecological services. Cyanobacteria are environment friendly resource for commercialproduction of active biochemicals, drugs and future energy(biodiesel, bioethanol and hydrogen). Topics on isolation, identification and classification ofcyanobacteria are discussed, as well as further sections on:summarizing a range of useful products synthesized bycyanobacteria, ecological services provided by cyanobacteriaincluding their harmful effect in water bodies and associated floraand fauna. Chapter on tools, techniques, and patents also focus onthe economic importance of the group. This book also provides aninsight for future perspectives in each particular field and anextensive bibliography. This book will be a highly useful resource for students,researchers and professionals in academics in the life sciencesincluding microbiology and biotechnology.