The book contains the following sections: biomass from carbohydrates; biomass from higher n-alkanes; biomass from methane and methanol; phototropic microalgae; edible mushrooms; starter cultures for milk and meat processing; starter cultures for other purposes; microbial soil amelioration; bacteria for nitrogen fixation; microbial insecticides; ethanol fermentation; acetic acid; lactic acid; citric acid; gluconic acid; organic acids of minor importance; amino acids; extracellular polysaccharides; microbial emulsifiers and de-emulsifiers; and energy from renewable resources. 190 figures, 205 tabels. (CKK)