Carotenoids, Microbial Processes

Carotenoids are used commercially as food colorants, feed supplements, nutraceuticals, and for cosmetic and pharmaceutical purposes. However, only a handful of the more than several hundred different carotenoids identified in nature can be obtained in useful quantities by chemical synthesis, extraction from their natural sources or microbial fermentation. The current global market for all commercially used carotenoids is expected to rise at an average annual growth rate of 2.9% reaching over $1 billion in 2009. The over-the-counter and pharmaceutical sector has become a new market for carotenoids and, together with an increasing demand for carotenoids in traditional feed and food applications, pushes efforts for the production of diverse carotenoid structures in useful quantities. As an alternative to chemical synthesis and extraction from natural sources, microbial processes are being currently developed for the production of carotenoids. In this article we will discuss the recent progress made in the development of microbial processes for carotenoid production.