Microbial biotechnology

Micro-organisms have been used by mankind for a long time as producers of specific substances, particularly in food. Along with the knowledge of the enormous metabolic diversity in microorganisms and with the possibilities of genetic engineering, the synthesis of various substances with the help of bacteria and fungi has been established in the industry. Following an optimisation of such “microbial cell factories”, the production of basic and fine chemicals, vitamins, or drugs from simple substrates is possible. In the long term, the combination of biotechnological and chemical processes facilitates the transition from petrochemistry-based synthesis to the production of substances based on renewable resources.