The Microbial Revolution
Microbes are nature’s engineers, capable of modifying and sustaining life’s fundamental processes, maintaining ecosystem balance, and revolutionizing industrial processes. Their role in industry has grown, especially in achieving sustainability and circular economy goals.
Cheese-making industries use many microbes to achieve versatile, high-quality products. Microbial rennins are applied to make the essential protein and lipid mass, which then is matured by lactic acid or propionic acid and other bacterial seed cultures. Moulds are often used in specific cheese varieties to add flavour and constitution.
“Microbes sustain the cycles of nature. Their catalytic power can create chemical products and processes in industries where traditional methods are too expensive or impractical,” says Adjunct Professor Elias Hakalehto, a microbiologist and biotechnology expert, who explores the potential of microbes in industrial applications.
From an industrial perspective, microbes play a crucial role in enhancing food production and environmental remediation. They can break down industrial waste, produce renewable fuels, and transform materials into more sustainable alternatives. For example, utilizing microbial processes in the forest industry’s side streams could lead to valuable chemicals, new energy sources, or soil-enhancing compounds.
The Role of Microbes in Maintenance and Circular Economy
One significant application is the use of microbes for optimizing resource utilization. Industrial residues that would otherwise be discarded can be transformed into valuable byproducts through microbial processes.
“For instance, we have studied the potential of ‘zero fibres’ from the forest industry, which can be converted into new chemicals, energy solutions, or even soil improvers,” Hakalehto explains.
Microbial processes are also playing an increasing role in maintenance and industrial hygiene. Contamination control and beneficial microbial utilization often go hand in hand, making microbes an integral part of industrial sustainability strategies.
Collection of experimental products from the Tampere Hiedanranta biopilot in 2020 by Finnoflag Oy and Afry Oyj. The bubble formation indicates that gaseous hydrogen is formed from the bioprocess using lake bottom industrial sediments as feasible raw material. The liquid broth also contains useful non-toxic chemicals lactate and mannitol, both more than 10%, which could be used as additives in food, chemical, cosmetic and for plant growth improvement. The solid fraction of the suspension makes an excellent soil amendment, which microbial treatments could further upgrade. Photo: Finnoflag Oy.
“One vast industrial product group is washing powders. Microbial enzymes are crucial in industries like detergent production, where they perform invisible but essential roles. Production of enzymatic biocatalysts is a significant industrial field, with microbial processes playing a key role in ensuring the quality of various products, either puposefully or as a part of the final process composition.”
Microbes in Industrial Maintenance
Microbes simultaneously present both challenges and opportunities in industrial environments. According to Hakalehto, the key is to harness their potential for managing risks effectively.
Microbial solutions are increasingly used in industrial maintenance to ensure system efficiency and longevity. For example, microbes can be utilized for bioremediation of industrial equipment, where they break down harmful residues like oils, grease, and heavy metals, preventing costly machine breakdowns. This improves operational efficiency. Microbial corrosion prevention is another application, as certain bacterial strains produce biofilms that protect metal surfaces from corrosion, thereby extending the lifespan of machinery in industries such as manufacturing, energy production, and marine transport.
Microbes are also used in cooling tower and pipeline cleaning to prevent biofouling, reducing the need for harsh chemical treatments and improving energy efficiency. In industrial waste treatment, enzyme-producing microbes are degrading complex organic waste in water treatment systems, which helps in reducing sludge formation and minimizing environmental impact.
Global Applications and Innovations
While the food industry has traditionally relied on microbial processes for fermentation, such as lactic acid, acetic acid, and alcohol production, modern industrial applications extend far beyond food itself. One key area is bioplastics and sustainable materials, where microbial polymers are now being used in plastic manufacturing, helping reduce the carbon footprint of packaging materials.
Mature cheeses are centuries-old traditional microbial biotechnology products. Dairy industries use microbial enzymes to separate milk proteins and fats from whey. Different microbial strains, such as lactic acid bacteria or propionic acid bacteria, then mature this precipitate.
In biofuels and energy production, advances in microbial biotechnology have enabled the creation of ethanol, biogas, and even microbial oils as alternative energy sources. Meanwhile, the pharmaceutical industry continues to rely on microbes, with 70-80% of antibiotics today derived from Streptomyces bacteria, following the discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming. Finally, in the textile and chemical industries, microbial enzymes and bio-based processes are being increasingly implemented to produce chemicals, textiles, and biodegradable plastics.
Microbes play a vital role in reducing industrial emissions and promoting sustainable practices.
As microbes are omni potential, we need to find their correct places in the milieu, either in the natural or man-made ecosystems. There they could flourish and cooperate with other strains in producing novel products, such as cheeses, enzymes, polymers, medicinal substances and fine chemicals. Using the combinations of biobased materials human industries can expand their livelihood for the benefit of all of us.
Examples of microbial environmental impact include:
Wastewater Treatment: Biological purification systems harness microbial activity to recycle water and remove pollutants, ensuring that cleaner water is returned to the environment.
Carbon Sequestration: Microbial assimilation of CO2 is emerging as a viable strategy for reducing atmospheric carbon levels.
Certain microbes capture and store carbon dioxide, helping to lower greenhouse gas concentrations.
Oil Spill Remediation: Natural microbial communities helped mitigate the environmental impact of the Deepwater Horizon disaster in 2010, demonstrating the power of microbial ecosystem engineering. These microbes break down hydrocarbons, effectively cleaning up oil spills.
Bioremediation: Microbes play a crucial role in breaking down pollutants and toxins in the environment. For example, bacteria and fungi can clean up industrial waste, transforming harmful substances into less toxic ones.
Bioenergy Production: Microbes convert organic waste into bioenergy, such as biogas and biofuels. Anaerobic bacteria digest organic matter in landfills and wastewater treatment plants to produce methane, a renewable energy source.
Agricultural Enhancements: Microbial fertilizers and soil conditioners improve soil health and crop yields, reducing the need for chemical fertilizers that can harm the environment. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form that plants can use, thus, promoting sustainable agriculture.
Industrial Applications: Microbes are employed in various industrial processes to enhance efficiency and reduce environmental impact. For instance, microbial fermentation is used in the production of bio-based chemicals, plastics, and pharmaceuticals, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
Finland’s Role in Global Microbial Innovations
Finland has been at the forefront of microbial research and industrial applications. Companies such as Neste Jacobs, Finnsugar, Valio and St1 have pioneered bioreactor design, microbial enzyme applications, bioethanol production, and probiotic research.
“Finland’s harsh climate fosters a mindset of innovation and problem-solving, making it a hub for microbial biotechnology,” notes Hakalehto.
Since the discovery of penicillin, microbes have played a major role in medicine. Today, 70-80% of antibiotics come from Streptomyces bacteria.
Future advancements in microbial biotechnology will depend on increased investments in research, technology development, and industrial scaling. Areas such as bioreactor design, microbial community studies, and process hygiene are critical for strengthening industrial platforms worldwide.
Hakalehto stresses that regulation is vital in the realm of microbial biotechnology to balance innovation and safety, however, it should not hinder beneficial development. He adds that microbial catalytic power has already been successfully harnessed for well-being and safety, such as when sea microbes helped mitigate the effects of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Caribbean. This led to the emergence of ecosystem engineering industries.
“Laws should support innovation while ensuring safety, as seen with medical devices and treatments. In the future, microbes could also improve soil quality, aiding the production of healthier, more abundant food.”
Over the next 10–20 years, microbial innovations are expected to transform industrial processes significantly. As Hakalehto concludes: “The potential of microbes is vast, and the only limitations are human ingenuity and our ability to integrate nature’s principles into industry. By embracing microbial solutions, we can drive sustainability, enhance efficiency, and reshape industries for the better.”
Microbial Innovations in Industry – Examples
• Food Industry: Microbes are essential in fermentations such as lactic acid, acetic acid, and alcoholic fermentation. They are also used to produce additives like citric acid.
• Material Industry: Microbially produced polymers are added to plastics, such as soft drink bottles, to reduce environmental impact.
• Energy Production: Microbial processes are used in biogas, ethanol, and biofuels. Novel microbial fuels, including microbial oil, are being developed for road, marine, and air transport.
• Chemical, Cosmetics, and Medical Industries: Microbes contribute to the production of sugar alcohol mannitol, an excipient for tablets, and microbial polymers in textiles.
• Pharmaceutical Industry: Since the discovery of penicillin, microbes have played a major role in medicine. Today, 70-80% of antibiotics are derived from Streptomyces bacteria.
• Antibiotic Resistance and Innovation: Advances in genetic engineering, such as cloning clavulanic acid genes, have improved antibiotic production, helping to combat antibiotic resistance and emerging pathogens.
Elias Hakalehto
Adjunct Professor
Text: Nina Garlo Photos: Elias Hakalehto, Shutterstock, Valio Oy
