ReviewBioaromas - Perspectives for sustainable development

•Bioaromas are natural aroma compounds biotechnologically produced.•Bioaroma production is aligned with the three pillars of sustainability.•Microbial aroma production is an environmentally friendly approach.•There is an increasing market for natural aromas and bioaroma has competitive prices.•Increasing reports show bioactivities of terpene biotransformation products.

BackgroundAroma compounds can be produced using three main methods: chemical synthesis, extraction from nature, and biotechnological process (bioaromas). In the latter method, when compared with chemical synthesis and direct extraction from nature, the (bio)aroma compounds obtained present numerous advantages, in such a way that this approach meets two important demands of modern society: the first one refers to products obtained by biotechnological processes, which can be considered as natural, and the second one is related to the concept of sustainable development, since such production processes are aligned with the best practices in environmental preservation.Scope and approachIn this review we demonstrate that the technological development of the production of aroma compounds using microorganisms is effectively promising as a process that allows the inextricably approach of the three pillars of sustainability: environment, economics, and social aspects.Key findings and conclusionThis review shows that bioaroma production consists of renewable processes that employ mild conditions of operation, do not generate toxic waste, uses biodiversity rationally, and may also avail agro-industrial residues or by-products in a special way. Moreover, biological (e.g., antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory) activities attributed to some terpene biotransformation products are increasingly being reported, indicating that their applications may transcend food industry.