Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 24, 2025

Scalable Step-by-Step Approach of Sustainable Bioplastic Production from Food Waste
Published on: July 18, 2025
Microbial food: microorganisms repurposed for our food
Kyeong Rok Choi1,2, Hye Eun Yu1, Sang Yup Lee1,2,3
1Metabolic and Biomolecular Engineering National Research Laboratory, Systems Metabolic Engineering and Systems Healthcare Cross Generation Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (BK21 Plus Program), Institute for the BioCentury, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, Korea.
Abstract:
Sustainable food production is a key to solve complicated and intertwined issues of overpopulation, climate change, environment and sustainability. Microorganisms, which have been routinely consumed as a part of fermented foods and more recently as probiotic dietary supplements, can be repurposed for our food to present a sustainable solution to current food production system. This paper begins with three snapshots of our future life with microbial foods. Next, the importance, possible forms, and raw materials (i.e. microorganisms and their carbon and energy sources) of microbial foods are discussed. In addition, the production strategies, further applications and current limitations of microbial foods are discussed.
Related Concept Videos
Microorganisms in Agriculture and Food industry
Environmental Applications of Microorganisms
Microorganisms in Medicine and Therapeutics
Biological Methods for Microbial Control
Microbial Fermentation
Microbial Nutrition

