Industrial Fermentation
With the ever-present need to transform our production processes and shift to safer and more sustainable practices, industrial fermentation processes are gaining momentum across industries seeking bio-based alternatives to traditional chemical manufacturing.
Industrial fermentation represents one of the most transformative biotechnologies of our time, harnessing the metabolic power of microorganisms to produce essential compounds for multiple industries. This controlled process involves cultivating bacteria, yeasts, fungi, and other microorganisms under specific conditions to generate valuable products at commercial scale.
Final applications of industrial fermentation
Microorganisms
Industrial fermentation enables large-scale production of beneficial microorganisms including baker's yeast, probiotic bacteria, starter cultures for food production, and specialized fungi for various biotechnology applications.
Bioagriculture
Agricultural biotechnology utilizes fermentation to produce biopesticides, biofertilizers, and plant growth promoters that support sustainable farming practices and crop protection.
Food and Feed Bioingredients
The fermentation process produces essential bio-ingredients such as enzymes for food processing, amino acids for nutrition, alternative proteins, vitamins, and functional ingredients that enhance food quality and nutritional value.
Biobased Chemicals
Fermentation technology generates sustainable chemicals including industrial enzymes, organic acids, ethanol, and bio-based solvents that replace petroleum-derived chemicals in various applications.
Nutra & Pharma Bioingredients
Pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries rely on fermentation for producing antibiotics, vaccines, therapeutic enzymes, vitamins, and bioactive compounds that support human health and medical treatments.
Industrial fermentation offers significant cost-effectiveness through optimized production processes, reduced raw material costs, and improved yield efficiency.
The technology demonstrates superior resource utilization,the sustainability benefits of fermentation are substantial, including reduced carbon footprint, lower energy consumption, alternative to chemistry or animal-based proteins, and minimal toxic waste generation. Fermentation processes often utilize renewable feedstocks and produce biodegradable products.
Effective waste management and by-product utilization in fermentation facilities create circular economy opportunities, converting waste streams into valuable co-products and reducing environmental impact.
Partner with Roquette
"For over 60 years, Roquette has been using fermentation to produce a wide array of large-scale, high-quality ingredients in our plants across the globe. Our extensive experience and expertise have enabled us to develop specialized products that support the fermentation industry at every stage.
By partnering with Roquette, customers gain access to a diverse range of premium raw materials designed to ensure sustainable and consistent fermentation and downstream processes. We are committed to driving success for our partners by providing the resources and support needed to develop new products and enhance operational efficiency. Choose Roquette for a reliable, knowledgeable partner in fermentation."
Léa – Global Marketing Manager
Types of fermentation in industry
Aerobic vs. Anaerobic Fermentation
Aerobic fermentation requires oxygen and typically produces higher biomass yields, making it ideal for microorganism production and enzyme manufacturing.
Anaerobic fermentation operates without oxygen, enabling the production of specific metabolites like organic acids, alcohols, and specialized biochemicals.
Liquid vs. Solid-State Fermentation
Liquid fermentation utilizes aqueous media and provides excellent process control, scalability, and consistent product quality.
Solid-state fermentation uses minimal water, offering advantages in waste utilization, reduced downstream processing, and unique product profiles.
Downstream processing ( DSP)
After fermentation, downstream processing (DSP) is essential to recover and purify the desired products. This involves several key steps: cell harvesting through centrifugation or filtration to separate cells from the liquid medium; cell disruption if producing intracellular products; clarification to remove cell debris; concentration using ultrafiltration or evaporation; purification through chromatography, precipitation, or extraction; and polishing via final filtration or crystallization.
Lastly, formulation stabilizes and dries the product, ensuring it meets quality and regulatory standards. These optimized DSP steps ensure high purity and yield of the final product.
Our complete solution portfolio:
- Carbon Sources
- Nitrogen Sources
- Growth Factors
- Filtration Aids
- Spray/Freeze-Drying Aids
All our solutions are plant-based, with non-GMO, non-allergen, feed-food-pharma grade options available to meet diverse industry requirements and regulatory standards.
Ready to co-create your next product with us?
Connect with Roquette BioIndustry Experts, to discuss your need