Understanding barriers in precision fermentation

Precision fermentation holds plenty of potential. But startups and more established companies in this field must overcome technological, economic, regulatory, sustainability, and consumer-acceptance challenges for it to gain further traction. Of first importance will be achieving competitive costs compared to traditional ingredients. Second, the fermentation manufacturing process must be optimized, including microbial strain productivity, and its scale increased to reduce costs. Third, regulatory approval is essential to facilitate market entry for ingredients derived from precision fermentation. Additionally, while sustainability claims may attract some consumers and customers, a deeper look shows varying results in environmental impact and some key areas for improvement. Finally, a market needs to develop for these precision fermentation-derived ingredients, with consumers willing to pay for them.