Downstream Processing - The various processes used for the actual recovery of useful products from a fermentation or any other industrial process is called downstream processing. The cost of downstream processing (DSP) is often more than 50% of the manufacturing cost, and there is product loss at each step of DSP.

Therefore, the DSP should be efficient, involve as few steps as possible (to avoid product loss), and be cost-effective. The various steps in DSP are as follows: