Comparison Of Ease Of Use, Process, And Reproducibility Of Two Different Fermentation Systems: Bioreactor And Shaking Flask

By Fákhr S. Siavash

Selecting the right fermentation system is a critical decision for biotechnology startups balancing budgets with the need for high-quality, reproducible results. While incubator shakers offer a cost-effective and simple entry point for initial strain screening, they often lack the active control over pH and dissolved oxygen necessary for high-density cultivation. In contrast, instrumented bioreactors provide the precise environmental stability required to manage the increased metabolic demands of rapid yeast propagation, particularly under thermal stress.

Recent evaluations of Kveik yeast strains at extreme temperatures (45°C) demonstrate that bioreactors significantly reduce microenvironmental variation and sampling noise compared to shaking flasks. Furthermore, utilizing multi-strain cultures over single-strain isolates provides additional physiological stability and robustness during the scale-up process. Access the full application note to explore the detailed growth data and reproducibility metrics that can guide your laboratory's scale-up strategy.