An efficient and economical bioprocess is the foundation of the biotechnological industry in a competitive market. This is a review article devoted to the application of agro-industrial residues and by-products in biotechnological processes. It is shown that this strategy has wide applicability and potential uses in different processes. Besides, this is an environmentally friendly technique since it decreases the discharge of potentially pollutant wastes and reduces the need of natural resources. Following a recent and increasing trend in the field of industrial fermentations, this approach might overcome the high costs involved related to bioprocesses, because the culture media represent a significant portion of the manufacturing costs of bioproducts. Also, many reports confirm that the substitution of conventional reaction media by agro-industrial residues might present similar yields. In this manuscript the application of these residues in bioprocesses is reported, especially those dealing with the production of biosurfactants, bioflavors (biotransformations and de novo synthesis) and oligosaccharides by microorganisms. © 2010 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. 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