This paper propose a systematic approach to microbial biotechnology—a comprehensive framework for developing customized technologies tailored to the unique characteristics of the entire process for specific products. It utilizes approaches such as simplifying the process, sequential rearrangement, and coupling steps to systematically and holistically address the bottlenecks of the entire process in microbial manufacturing, aiming to achieve optimal economic and environmental benefits. This method involves the integration of multiple disciplines, including enzymology, synthetic biology, metabolic engineering, fermentation, separation engineering, and artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Here, we present several cases involving various stages of product bioproduction, developed under the concept of systematic microbial biotechnology, to demonstrate its effectiveness and advantages. The development and application of these technological concepts hold significant potential to shape the future of a sustainable circular bioeconomy driven by microbial manufacturing.

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province, Young Taishan Scholars, and Youth Innovation Promotion Association CAS.

Link:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xinn.2025.100871