Scaling microbial fermentation, when working with bacterial, fungal, or yeast-based systems, from laboratory scale to pilot or commercial production involves many challenges. Whether you are producing bacterial cultures for biopharmaceuticals, yeast for bioethanol production, fungal systems for enzyme manufacturing, or precision fermentation products, understanding these specific challenges and confidently overcoming them is important.

A bioreactor provides an ideal environment where cells can focus on what they are supposed to do: proliferate. Like lab workers, cells can only produce consistently good work if the conditions are right: it should not be too hot or too cold, and they have to have enough nutritious food and fresh air. In terms of a bioreactor, this means maintaining pH, temperature, ensuring sufficient gas supply and, depending on how the instrument has been configured, adding nutrients for successful maintenance of growth.