Fats and oils from microorganisms.

There is acute shortage of edible fats and oils in India which affects the
nutritional requirements of the population of the countm Utilization of these
commodities in soap, paint and varnish industries is also partly responsible for
the scarcity, Bia-oil production by mfcroorganisms, which is technologically feasible,
has the potential of being an alternative source of fats and oils. However,
its economic production is uncertain, possibly due to higher cost of substrate and
energy. Despite easy availability of molasses at a very cheap rate, the cost of
production of bio-oil would be a little higher in comparison to vegetable oils in
India. The manufacturing cost of bio-oil would be on par with vegetable oils if
capital ;lIVestmell't alld other inpurs are subsidized, as in the case of agriculture(
diesel, fertilizers, irrigation and power).