Composition and methods for improving the production of fermentation operations

A method of increasing the overall rate of ethanol production by a yeast during fermentation of sugars in a fermentation medium, wherein the sugars are derived from a feedstock substrate consisting essentially of corn, wheat, rye, barley, cassava, millet, potato, cellulose, molasses, fruit, cane juice or beet juice, or a combination of any two or more of said feedstock substrates, the method comprising adding an emulsion comprising a monoterpene and a surfactant to said fermentation medium in amount sufficient to improve the viability of said yeast, thereby increasing the overall rate of ethanol production as the primary product of fermentation.