Eric Sundstrom

Conventional batch fermentation has long been the backbone of industrial biotechnology — but a new wave of platforms is challenging that paradigm. From continuous and gas fermentation and novel feedstock integration to the emerging role of AI across the stack, Industrial Biotech is changing at a rapid pace. So what's actually holding them back, and what will it take to move them forward? This panel brings together practitioners and innovators working at the frontier of alternative fermentation systems to explore the enablers, accelerators, and real-world lessons shaping the path ahead. Rather than debating which technology "wins," we'll examine the shared challenges across platforms: navigating the pilot-to-commercial scale-up journey, working with non-traditional feedstocks, and incorporating new AI tools into the process. Whether you're deep in the lab or making investment and deployment decisions, this conversation will surface concrete insights on what's needed — technically, operationally, and systemically — to unlock the next generation of fermentation.