Strategies for improving fermentation medium performance: a review

Many techniques are available in the fermentation medium designer’s toolbox (borrowing, component swapping, biological mimicry, one-at-a-time, statistical and mathematical techniques—experimental design and optimization, artificial neural networks, fuzzy logic, genetic algorithms, continuous fermentation, pulsed batch and stoichiometric analysis). Each technique has advantages and disadvantages, and situations where they are best applied. No one ‘magic bullet’ technique exists for all situations. However, considerable advantage can be gained by logical application of the techniques, combined with good experimental design. Received 24 December 1998/ Accepted in revised form 18 August 1999