Precision Fermentation CDMO

Evonik is a global leader in microbial fermentation, offering contract manufacturing services for pharmaceutical, food, cosmetic, and biomaterial applications. With over 40 years of experience, we help companies produce high-quality ingredients and chemical components using sustainable, scalable, and innovative fermentation technologies.

Our capabilities span:

• Strain development
• Process optimization
• Large-scale manufacturing
• Regulatory-compliant production across six global sites

With more than 4,000 m³ of fermentation capacity across the U.S., Europe, and Asia, we’re equipped to support your project—no matter the scale or complexity.projects regardless of scale or complexity.

Precision fermentation is a cutting-edge biomanufacturing method that uses engineered microorganisms to produce specific molecules—such as proteins, enzymes, or other bioactive compounds. These molecules can serve as raw materials, active ingredients, or components in pharmaceuticals, food, cosmetics, and more.

Unlike traditional fermentation, precision fermentation focuses on tailoring microbial strains to create highly targeted outputs, often replacing plant-based or animal-derived ingredients with sustainable, lab-grown alternatives.

Precision fermentation offers several key benefits:

• Sustainability: Reduces reliance on animal or plant-based sources
• Efficiency: Enables high-yield production of complex molecules
• Scalability: Easily scaled from lab to commercial volumes
• Consistency: Delivers reproducible quality across batches
• Regulatory readiness: Supports compliance with global regulatory standards

This approach is ideal for producing drug substances, food ingredients, cosmetic actives, and specialty chemicals with precision and purity.

Evonik supports a wide range of fermentation-based projects across industries. Our expertise includes:

Small molecules:

• Amino acids and non-natural derivatives
• Secondary metabolites
• Natural substances
• Fatty acids and lipid derivatives (e.g., sphingosines, glycolipids)

Complex molecules:

• Oligosaccharides
• Biosurfactants
• Enzymes
• Peptides and proteins
• Nucleotides

We also work with whole organisms such as probiotics and whole-cell catalysts, using strains like Streptomyces, yeast, fungi, and algae. Our enzyme toolbox includes over 20 platforms, many of which are used as whole-cell catalysts.

Advanced OMICS technologies—genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics—support rational strain development and help eliminate bottlenecks in production.

Evonik’s global contract manufacturing network includes six fermentation sites across Europe, the U.S., and Asia. We offer:

• Development from microtiter plates to 5,000-liter bioreactors
• Commercial production in bioreactors up to 250 m³
• A new pilot facility in Slovakia with advanced upstream/downstream processing units

Capabilities include:

• Solid-liquid and liquid-liquid separation
• Micro-, ultra-, and nanofiltration
• Cell disruption, evaporation, crystallization, lyophilization

This infrastructure ensures a robust supply chain and smooth transition from development to market.

Evonik applies its pharmaceutical-grade fermentation expertise to emerging sectors such as:

• Advanced food ingredients
• Cosmetics
• Nature-identical materials (e.g., biofabricated leather, spider silk)

These applications often require precision strain engineering and scalable contract manufacturing. We help innovators bring sustainable, high-quality products to market with confidence.

Choosing Evonik means choosing a partner with:

• Decades of experience in fermentation-based production
• Proven success in scaling complex bioprocesses
• Global contract manufacturing infrastructure
• Deep understanding of regulatory and quality requirements
• Expertise in strain development, process optimization, and downstream processing
• A reliable supply chain for sourcing raw materials and delivering finished products

Whether you're developing a new chemical component, scaling a drug substance, or launching a novel food ingredient, Evonik provides the tools and expertise to make your vision a reality.

Get in touch with our experts to discuss your specific needs and requirements.