In 1996 Wienberg and Muck proposed to implement
Lactobacillus buchneri in silage starters. The main
reason for the use of heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria
is the increased stability of silages against deterioration
by yeasts and moulds when exposed to air. In the
following years, the unique activity of L. buchneri in
silages was evaluated. It was proven that acetic acid
formed from lactic acid by L. buchneri is solely responsible
for the increased stability of silages. Recently, a
novel metabolic pathway from lactic acid to acetic acid
and 1,2-propanediol was proposed.