From 2013.igem.org

Vanillin

Vanillin (4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzadledhyde) is a valuable industrial aromatic compound involved in flavouring, preservatives, pharmaceuticals, and fragrances. Naturally, vanillin is extracted from vanilla pods in flat-leaved Vanilla planifolia, Vanilla tahitiensis, and Vanilla pompona. Commercialization of botanical-derived vanillin, however, is infeasible and cannot achieve the demands of the world vanilla market due to unpredictable harvesting yields, climate fluctuations, and labour-intensive processing. Only 0.2% of world production originates from plant-based vanillin while majority of vanillin synthesis is chemically derived. Chemical synthesis of vanillin from petrochemical precursors, such as guaiacol and glyoxylic acid, produce over 10 thousands tons of vanillin per year. Despite production by chemical synthesis, the demand for vanillin still outcompetes supply.

To meet the growing consumption of vanillin by industries while fulfilling the market for more 'natural' vanillin, the focus has shifted to alternative methods of vanillin production by biosynthesis from more natural precursors, such as lignin, phenolic stilbenes, isoeugenol, eugnol, ferulic acid, and aromatic acids. Aligned with this movement, European and United States legislations have allowed microbial production of vanillin to be classified as natural vanillin.