Bioengineering in Solid-State Fermentation for next sustainable food bioprocessing

Solid-State Fermentation (SSF) is a breakthrough approach in the sustainable bioprocessing of foods that applies bioengineering techniques to enhance the accumulation of bioactive compounds in functional foods. A review of bioengineering strategies that optimize microbial growth and metabolite production in SSF systems is presented in this chapter, including novel bioreactor designs and genetic engineering of microorganisms combined with metabolic engineering. The present document also describes some of the important developments in the extraction and purification of bioactive molecules from SSF processes, with special emphasis on their potential for using waste from the food industry to reduce the environmental burden. Combining SSF with state-of-the-art biotechnological tools aids in the efficient production of high value-added compounds, placing a strong basis for economic-ecological sustainability. The document further elaborates on the optimization techniques necessary for the maximum efficiency of SSF processes, trends, and challenges in the area in the future, and case studies that illustrate their application in real life. By providing an incisive review of the present status and future directions of SSF in food bioprocessing, this contribution highlights the importance of SSF in promoting sustainable food production systems.