Sustainable γ-Linolenic Acid Production by Cunninghamella elegans: Advances in Microbial Biotechnology, Precision Fermentation, and Circular Bioeconomy
Precision Fermentation for Sustainable GLA Production
Keywords:
γ-Linolenic acid, Cunnin-ghamella elegans, Oleaginous fungi, Precis-ion fermentation , Sustainable biotechnology , Agro-industrial waste valorization , Metabolic engineering , Circular bioeconomyAbstract
Background and aims: γ-Linolenic acid (GLA) is a high-value omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid with recognized applications in nutrition, pharmaceuticals, and functional foods. Among microbial producers, Cunning-hamella elegans has attracted increasing attention because of its capacity to accumulate lipids and synthesize GLA under diverse cultivation conditions while utilizing renewable substrates. This narrative review critically synthesizes recent advances in sustainable GLA production by Cunninghamella elegans, with particular emphasis on microbial physiology, Δ⁶-desaturase-mediated biosynthesis, substrate valorization, fermentation strategies, metabolic engineering, and downstream processing.
Results and Conclusion: The review further show how agro-industrial residues, including glycerol, apple pomace, cereal by-products, grape pomace, and lingo-cellulosic biomass, can contribute to circular bioeconomy approaches by supporting resource-efficient microbial lipid production. Recent developments in CRISPR-based genome engineering, AI-assisted bioprocess optimization, precision fermentation, and multi-omics approaches are promising strategies for improving GLA productivity and process performance. In addition, current evidence regarding nutritional and pharmaceutical applications, techno-economic feasibility, life-cycle assessment, regulatory considerations, and industrial scalability is critically evaluated. By integrating findings from studies published between 2018 and 2025, this review identifies current knowledge gaps, emerging technological opportunities, and future research priorities for translating laboratory-scale advances into economically and environmentally sustainable industrial production. Overall, the available evidence indicates that Cunninghamella elegans represents a promising microbial platform for sustainable GLA production; however, further experimental validation, standardized process optimization, and large-scale industrial studies remain necessary to facilitate commercial implementation.
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