Fermentation at full throttle: Symbiotec’s big bet on bio-based manufacturing

“I’m passionate about helping society lead healthier lives – in cleaner, greener ways that also safeguard our planet,” begins Arjun Satwani, who recently joined Symbiotec Life Sciences, the company founded by his father more than two decades ago. As a second-generation leader with a background in mechanical engineering and business management, Satwani is helping to guide Symbiotec into its next phase: a full-spectrum CDMO platform tailored for the alt-protein, human nutrition, and bio-based specialty chemicals industries.

Symbiotec may be a new name in food-tech circles, but its reputation in pharmaceuticals runs deep. With a history of US FDA and EU GMP compliance and over 16 years of experience in fermentation-based API production, the company is bringing pharma-grade precision to the world of biomanufactured foods. “We’re channeling that experience to support innovators beyond the pharma sector,” Satwani reveals. “We believe biotechnology is a powerful enabler of global change, and we’re excited to be at the forefront of this evolution.”

From lab to 100kL: a journey of scale and support

Operating from a +30-acre site in central India (of which the company has currently built on 10 acres with 20 acres reserved for future expansion), Symbiotec boasts four 100m³ fermenters and a fully integrated pilot line including 50L, 2kL, and 20kL fermenters. But its value to startups goes far beyond infrastructure.

“The journey with our partners starts at our Biotech R&D center of excellence,” Satwani continues. “We not only validate processes at a 50L scale but identify optimization opportunities in process parameters and media components for full-scale production.”

This approach is hands-on and methodical, tailored to the needs of early-stage companies. “Our R&D team, having worked on numerous classical fermentation APIs, excels at improving yields via random mutation, media optimization, and process parameter tuning. That gives us a significant edge in CDMO projects.”

Host organisms span a wide range – from Pichia pastoris and E. coli, currently dominating the pipeline, to fungi and algae. Notably, the company has incorporated biopharma-style controls to reduce the risk of phage contamination during bacterial fermentation.

“We’ve put strong engineering controls in place, often seen in the biopharma industry, to safeguard against phage contamination in bacterial fermentation – enhancing our process integrity,” Satwani notes. “It’s just another way we bring that pharmaceutical mindset to food-tech.

“We believe scale is a key driver in accelerating the transition from traditional products to bio-manufactured alternatives,” he adds. “Along with yield and productivity, achieving scale is critical to breaking cost parity. That’s why we’ve invested in commercial manufacturing at a 100kL scale – enabling higher volumes and lower costs.

“Modularity is at the heart of our plant design,” Satwani continues. “Different products demand different downstream processing needs. For example, we’re currently developing a separate block for a filamentous fungi-based meat enhancer, drawing on our landbank set aside for future expansions.”

Their DSP toolkit is extensive, with capabilities spanning cell harvesting, biomass separation, disruption, clarification, purification, crystallization, and spray drying. “This level of flexibility is critical in our mission to support next-gen biotech and food-tech partners – because every process is different, and we’re built to deliver without compromise.”

Engineering sustainability at scale

Symbiotec has also embedded environmental responsibility into its operational DNA. “We have a Zero-Liquid Discharge effluent treatment plant with 480kL/day,” notes Satwani, “enabling water reuse across utilities.”

The facility uses biomass briquettes made from agricultural waste in its boilers, and a Distributed Control System (DCS) automates real-time monitoring for energy efficiency. Heat recovery systems improve thermal performance, and CIP/SIP systems are sensor-based to reduce water and chemical use.

“We are also implementing co-generation in our boilers and plan to add solar panels soon,” Satwani reveals. “This helps diversify our energy mix.”

Strategic regional advantages complement these initiatives. With access to sugar refineries and corn-derived glucose in the surrounding states, consistent water supply from the Narmada River, and strong road links to Mumbai Port, Symbiotec is well-positioned for both sourcing and distribution.

“We benefit from our proximity to the corn agriculture belt in Madhya Pradesh and neighboring states like Maharashtra and Gujarat,” he explains. “Our access to carbon feedstocks is strong and reliable.

“Our strong regulatory track record supplying APIs to the USA, European Union, and Japan gives our partners confidence in quality and traceability. In today’s volatile environment, we offer speed, flexibility, and resilience – which are essential.”

Beyond manufacturing: a commercialization ally

Symbiotec isn’t just a manufacturing site – it positions itself as a strategic partner. “From early-stage development to full-scale 100kL manufacturing and beyond, we provide end-to-end support,” says Satwani.

That support can include co-investments in equipment or infrastructure when there’s alignment. “We understand that early-stage companies often face resource constraints and risk aversion. To ease this journey, we’re open to co-investments in equipment, infrastructure, or process tailoring when there’s strong alignment. Our goal is to build long-term, strategic partnerships, not just transactional engagements.”

IP protection is another cornerstone. “Your IP is your IP,” says Satwani. “All client-owned strains, processes, and data are handled with strict confidentiality.”

The company enforces this with access controls, 24/7 security, and IT systems with restricted access and regular audits. Clients are also granted audit rights to facilities and documentation. “Moving your manufacturing halfway around the world can feel risky. Our job is to make that move seamless and secure – and that’s why we have stringent policies in place for IP protection.”

Scaling for the future: India as a biomanufacturing hub

Symbiotec’s ambitions extend far beyond its current 400m³ capacity. “We’ve already reserved nearly 20 acres for brownfield expansion, allowing us to scale to multiple times our current capacity,” Satwani explains.

The drivers are clear. “Many partners who began with development batches are now forecasting commercial-scale needs in the near future. Several have multiple products in their pipelines, each requiring dedicated manufacturing slots. For us, capacity expansion is not just likely – it’s inevitable.”

Agility in infrastructure build-out is also a key differentiator. “We started construction of our 750kg/hr spray dryer block in October and commissioned it this month. Seven months from start to finish. That speed gives our partners confidence.”

Compared to CDMOs in Europe or North America, Symbiotec offers a clear cost and efficiency edge. “Our region is like the Midwest of India,” Satwani says. “We benefit from lower CapEx and OpEx, with excellent infrastructure and accessibility. Even compared to southern Indian clusters, we operate at greater scale and cost efficiency.”

Driving innovation through collaboration

At the core of Symbiotec’s offering is its Biotech R&D Excellence Center. Housing multiple fermenters (13 in total) of 7.5L, 30L, and 50L, and scaled-down versions of DSP equipment, the center bridges lab development and commercial readiness.

“We conduct weekly technical calls, progress updates, and coordinate closely with client teams,” explains Satwani. “For clients arriving with just a proof of concept, we begin with feasibility studies and techno-economic analysis to validate scalability and commercial fit.

“All major downstream equipment present in our production facility is mirrored in scaled-down versions within our R&D center – along with certain additional equipment and analytical tools – enabling seamless tech transfer and process optimization.”

The company is also forging global innovation ties. “We’ve partnered with synthetic biology companies in North America and Europe. A synthetic biology lab is on the horizon for us in India, which will unlock capabilities in strain engineering,” he adds.

What sets Symbiotec apart

For companies navigating the complexities of bringing novel proteins to market, the choice of CDMO partner can make or break success. According to Satwani, the key lies in finding more than just capacity – it’s about securing a partnership rooted in experience, adaptability, and trust.

“That partner is someone who understands the nuances of scaling a novel idea into a reliable, cost-efficient, and regulatory-compliant product,” says Satwani. “That’s where Symbiotec sets itself apart.”

With more than 20 years of experience producing pharmaceutical products under stringent US FDA and EU-GMP standards, Symbiotec brings a wealth of know-how to the alternative protein space. Satwani believes this background provides a distinct advantage when it comes to understanding complex microbial fermentation and quality management systems.

“This experience brings a level of expertise and insight to alt-protein manufacturing that’s genuinely valuable – we understand complex fermentation processes, quality systems, and regulatory frameworks in ways that translate directly to the challenges present when working with novel proteins and sensitive microbial strains,” he explains.

The company’s global track record also positions it well for navigating the diverse regulatory landscapes of different markets. “Our global experience serving customers across North America, Europe, and other regulated markets has taught us to navigate diverse regulatory environments and business requirements,” Satwani continues. “This international perspective, combined with our exceptional customer service and proven supply chain and logistics expertise, ensures seamless collaboration and efficient product delivery regardless of where our partners are based.”

Symbiotec’s emphasis on capital efficiency is another point of differentiation. Years of operational growth have taught the company how to scale facilities with remarkable speed and cost-effectiveness.

“Our capital efficiency in facility construction is another significant advantage,” Satwani notes. “Twenty years of building and expanding operations has taught us how to deliver world-class infrastructure quickly and cost-effectively.”

This future-readiness is built into the physical footprint of Symbiotec’s operations as well. “Symbiotec is also designed for scale,” he says. “Our campus includes over 20 acres reserved for expansion, enabling rapid capacity additions to support our partners’ growth with exceptional speed and efficiency.”

From Satwani’s perspective, the company’s edge lies in the combination of technical rigor and operational flexibility.

“The combination of deep technical expertise from highly regulated manufacturing, proven global experience, exceptional customer service, robust supply chain management, and built-in scalability – that’s what truly differentiates Symbiotec.”

But beyond infrastructure and experience, Satwani speaks with genuine passion about the role Symbiotec can play in transforming the future of food.

“Personally, I’m most excited about the work we’re doing in this space,” he reflects. “The opportunity to help companies transition from pilot scale to commercial production – and ultimately reach consumers with their innovative products – represents real impact for both our people and our planet.”

He also points to a shift in the landscape as more major players enter the alternative protein sector. For Symbiotec, this signals both validation and opportunity.

“From a business perspective, the momentum we’re seeing in the alt-protein space, especially with larger multinational companies now seriously exploring these technologies, suggests we’re at an inflection point,” Satwani concludes. “Being part of that transformation, helping scale the technologies that could reshape how the world produces food, is gratifying.”