Computer-aided chemical engineering research advances in precision fermentation

Precision fermentation is a promising food production technology that uses micro-organisms to produce specific proteins, fats, and vitamins, offering a more sustainable alternative to animal agriculture. This review explores recent advances in computer-aided chemical engineering research within precision fermentation, focusing on process systems engineering (PSE), process control, and artificial intelligence. PSE offers important process synthesis and process optimisation tools for fermentation, helping evaluate environmental impacts and economic feasibility during design. Advanced control strategies, such as soft sensors, can improve productivity and yield. Artificial intelligence methods, such as surrogate modelling, enable rapid experimentation, process optimisation, and scale-up, accelerating development. These advances pave the way for precision fermentation to play a greater role in the food production system of the future.