Harnessing Microbial Potential for Sustainable Biomanufacturing and Bioeconomic Growth

Abstract

Biomanufacturing relies on microorganisms as production platforms due to their inherent metabolic versatility, rapid growth, and suitability for scalable biological processes. Compared to plant and mammalian systems, microbial platforms are preferred because they enable efficient process control, flexible substrate utilization, and straightforward translation from laboratory to industrial scale. Central to the success of microbial biomanufacturing is strain engineering, which allows the redirection of metabolic fluxes, enhancement of product yields, and improvement of robustness under industrial operating conditions. Despite advances in molecular and systems level tools, strain improvement remains a major bottleneck, particularly when transitioning from proof-of-concept to large-scale production. Additional challenges include process scale-up, infrastructure availability, regulatory harmonization, and workforce capacity. In the Indian context, national initiatives such as Make in India and the BioE3 policy are supporting the development of domestic biomanufacturing capabilities, however, continued dependence on imported single-use components and high capital and operational costs limit broader adoption. Future progress is expected to be driven by systematic strain engineering, data-driven design–build-test cycles, and integrated biofoundry models, enabling the establishment of a resilient and competitive biomanufacturing ecosystem.