The feasibility of using waste sugar beet pulp (WSBP) as a supplemental substrate for xanthan gum production from Xanthomonas campestris was investigated. For the range of incubation periods and contact times investigated (1 to 5 days), there were no differences in the mean WSBP degradation. The mean WSBP degradation was significantly greater for incubation temperatures of 28 degrees C as compared to incubation temperatures of 32 degrees C. WSBP degradation was insensitive to the contact temperatures evaluated. These results indicate that optimal cell growth might optimize WSBP degradation. Xanthan gum production from the WSBP supplemented cultures was significantly greater than the unsupplemented production medium. Based on a preliminary analysis, the use of WSBP for xanthan gum production has the potential to be a cost-effective supplemental substrate to produce non-food grade xanthan gum.