Modern microbial fermentation treats media formulation as a sophisticated, engineered unit operation rather than a simple nutrient recipe. This approach integrates biological requirements with regulatory compliance, supply-chain resilience, and environmental sustainability to optimize industrial production. By utilizing advanced tools like digital twins, dynamic modeling, and AI-driven optimization, manufacturers can precisely control metabolic shifts and scaling challenges. This evolution enables the transition toward circular feedstocks and chemically defined media, which reduce process variability and carbon footprints. Ultimately, the text frames media as a lifecycle-managed asset that is co-designed with microbial strains to ensure high-performance, resilient biomanufacturing.