Alpha-keto (alpha-keto) acids are used widely in feeds, food additives, pharmaceuticals, and in chemical synthesis processes. Although most alpha-keto acids are currently produced by chemical synthesis, their biotechnological production from renewable carbohydrates is a promising new approach. In this mini-review, we first present the different types of alpha-keto acids as well as their applications; next, we summarize the recent progresses in the biotechnological production of some important alpha-keto acids; namely, pyruvate, alpha-ketoglutarate, alpha-ketoisovalerate, alpha-ketoisocaproate, phenylpyruvate, alpha-keto-gamma-met hylthiobutyrate, and 2,5-diketo-D-gluconate. Finally, we discuss the future prospects as well as favorable directions for the biotechnological production of keto acids that ultimately would be more environment-friendly and simpler compared with the production by chemical synthesis. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier Ltd.