New Fermentation Markets and How They Scale

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New Fermentation Markets and How They Scale

Instructors: Vijay Singh

Included with

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4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

6 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

6 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Explain how fermentation evolved and why precision fermentation matters for sustainability.
Analyze market trends and product innovations shaping the global bioeconomy.
Evaluate scale-up challenges and strategies for moving from lab to commercial production.

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

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There are 4 modules in this course

Discover how fermentation is transforming industries and driving a sustainable future. This course begins by exploring the evolution of fermentation—from ancient food traditions to modern precision techniques—and why it matters today. You’ll dive into the science behind fermentation, including microbes, synthetic biology, and feedstocks, before examining the innovative products shaping global markets in food, beauty, and industrial materials. Finally, you’ll tackle one of the biggest challenges: scaling fermentation from lab to commercial production.

This course is part of the College of ACES suite of online programs and is supported by the Integrated Bioprocessing Research Lab (IBRL), a pilot plant facility focused on bioprocessing technologies located at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. The IBRL was built with the needs of industry projects and customers in mind, supporting over 1,000 scale-up projects for our clients since opening in 2018. Learn more about online programs from the College of ACES: https://acesonline.illinois.edu Learn more about IBRL: https://ibrl.aces.illinois.edu

In the course orientation, we’ll get to know the course, our learning environment, and the tools we’ll use. Then, we’ll explore how fermentation has evolved—from ancient food traditions to cutting-edge innovations. Together, we’ll discover why precision fermentation is reshaping the future of food, sustainability, and the bioeconomy. This foundational module sets the stage for understanding the science and markets we’ll explore next.

What's included

4 videos4 readings2 assignments1 discussion prompt

4 videos Total 10 minutes

Course Overview 5 minutes
Module 1 Overview 1 minute
Why Fermentation Matters: From Ancient Practice to Future Markets 3 minutes
Module 1 Wrap -Up 1 minute

4 readings Total 40 minutes

Syllabus 10 minutes
Updating Your Profile 10 minutes
Precision Fermentation: a guide for endless opportunities to reshape traditional foods using microbial factories 10 minutes
Interactive | Explore Fermentation Through Time 10 minutes

2 assignments Total 50 minutes

Orientation Quiz 30 minutes
Module 1 | Knowledge Check 20 minutes

1 discussion prompt Total 10 minutes

Getting to Know Your Classmates 10 minutes

Building on the big-picture context, this module takes us inside the science of fermentation. We’ll learn how traditional and precision fermentation differ, explore the role of synthetic biology, and examine the sustainability of common feedstocks. By the end, we’ll have the core concepts needed to understand how fermentation technologies work—and why they’re gaining traction across industries.

What's included

5 videos2 readings1 assignment

Now that we understand the science, it’s time to see what fermentation can create. This module highlights key product categories—from food and beauty to industrial materials—and connects them to global market trends. We’ll even explore an interactive map of regional fermentation hubs to see how geography, feedstocks, and innovation shape the bioeconomy.

What's included

6 videos2 readings1 assignment

6 videos Total 17 minutes

Module 3 Overview 1 minute
Fermented Foods 5 minutes
Fermentation in Personal Care 2 minutes
Industrial Innovation: Industrial Chemicals, Materials, & Polymers  3 minutes
Forecasting the Future: Fermentation Market Trends 4 minutes
Module 3 Wrap-Up 1 minute

2 readings Total 20 minutes

Interactive Map: Global Fermentation Hubs & Trends 10 minutes
Safeguarding the Bioeconomy & Market Impact of a Billion-Ton Bioeconomy 10 minutes

1 assignment Total 20 minutes

Module 3 | Knowledge Check 20 minutes

In our final module, we’ll examine what it takes to bring fermentation innovations to scale. We’ll explore capacity constraints, technology readiness levels, and workforce needs. Through a scenario-based activity, we’ll step into the role of an advisor helping a startup navigate scale-up strategy. After completing this module, we’ll be ready to take the final assessment and earn our Coursera certificate!

What's included

6 videos6 readings2 assignments

6 videos Total 32 minutes

Module 4 Overview 1 minute
Capacity Constraints: Why Scaling Fermentation Is Hard 4 minutes
Tech Readiness: From Lab Bench to Commercial Scale 15 minutes
Workforce Development & Bioprocessing Hubs  10 minutes
Module 4 Wrap-Up 1 minute
Course Summary 2 minutes

6 readings Total 55 minutes

BCG Synonym Report 10 minutes
Sustainable Scale-Up: Environmental Impacts & Industry Insights 10 minutes
Regional Biomanufacturing Hubs and Policy 10 minutes
Learner Guide: Advising MycoScale on Scale-Up Strategy 5 minutes
Congratulations! 10 minutes
Getting Your Course Certificate 10 minutes

2 assignments Total 60 minutes

Module 4 | Knowledge Check 20 minutes
Final Assessment 40 minutes

Instructors

Vijay Singh

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

1 Course 349 learners

Offered by

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

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