Work

Sustainable bacteriocin manufacturing for food applications: An integrated perspective on process design and economic feasibility within a bioeconomy framework

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Growing concerns about environmental sustainability have driven a shift toward production models that integrate economic, environmental, and social priorities. As the global population continues to rise, ensuring food security while protecting ecosystems has become a critical challenge, directly aligning with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. Within this landscape, the bioeconomy has emerged as a strategic framework that promotes sustainable growth through the efficient use of renewable resources. The food industry has increasingly embraced this approach, driven by both institutional policies and consumer awareness. Building on these sustainability imperatives, the sector has turned its attention to food preservation, a practice with ancient roots but evolving modern challenges. The widespread use of chemical preservatives has raised health concerns, as certain compounds are linked to allergic reactions and potential carcinogenic effects. Consequently, biopreservatives such as bacteriocins—antimicrobial peptides produced by lactic acid bacteria—have gained prominence as natural and safe alternatives. Despite their promise, challenges remain in optimizing fermentation and downstream processes to enable industrial-scale and economically viable production. To address this need, this review focuses on recent bioprocess engineering strategies for bacteriocin production, highlighting the use of food-grade substrates derived from agro-industrial by-products, waste valorization and advances in principles of a green economy. Innovations in bioreactor design, fermentation control, and techno-economic evaluation to enhance production efficiency and environmental performance have also been discussed. By integrating microbiological, engineering, and sustainability perspectives, this work provides a comprehensive overview of bacteriocin production systems and their potential contribution to the development of sustainable biopreservation technologies.

Source: Bioresource Technology Reports

DOI: 10.1016/j.biteb.2026.103131