New Developments
Ferulic acid is found in cell walls where it helps to form links that strengthen the walls. Its structure is similar to vanillin, and it is probably the starting point for vanillin production in the vanilla orchid.

Having noticed that some soil bacteria produced a vanilla smell when fed with ferulic acid, research is leading to methods that may allow vanillin synthesis from agricultural waste. Various strains of bacteria and fungi have been tried with sugar beet pulp (left over from sugar production) and wheat/maize bran, and the results are very promising.