The present invention relates to the field of biochemistry, specifically to the bioproduction of glycolate. Host cells, especially cyanobacteria of the genus Synechocystis, are modified in several ways to increase extracellular glycolate, including: mutant Rubisco enzymes, overexpression of phosphoribulokinase (PRK) or phosphoglycolate phosphatase (PGP), a permease to export glycolate, like GIcA, or by reduction of the capacity to metabolize glycolate due to reduced or eliminated glycolate dehydrogenase, glycolate oxidase activity and/or lactate dehydrogenase.