Stability of microbial composition, and manufacturing methods therefore

A method for the preparation of a composition comprising a microencapsulated microbial culture, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) obtaining a concentrated cell mass of the microbial culture;
• b) adding a protective compound to the concentrated cell mass of (a) to obtain a mixture;
• c) drying the mixture of (b) to obtain a dried mixture;
• d) optionally grinding the dried mixture of (c) to obtain a powder;
• e) coating the dried mixture of (c) or powder of (d);
• and
• f) mixing the coated dried mixture or powder of (e) with an excipient;
• wherein the protective compound is a cryoprotectant and/or lyoprotectant with a bulk density between 150 and 600 kg/m3.