Microbial diversity is essential for human well-being and ecosystem services. Use of microorganisms in biomolecule production is common, but involves single-strain cultures. Microbial consortia provide advantages in the process of degrading organic waste to yield biomolecules of biotechnological interest. Microbial diversity in consortia can be an asset in the context of bioenergy and chemical production, which are key concerns for global energy demands. Improving knowledge of microbial consortia will therefore be important for biotechnology.