The production of poly(gamma-glutamic acid) by Bacillus subtilis NX-2 from cane molasses and monosodium glutamate waste liquor (MGWL) was studied for the first time in this work. When batch fermentation was carried out with untreated molasses, 33.6 +/- 0.37 g L-1 PGA was obtained with a productivity of 0.46 +/- 0.006 g L-1 h(-1). In order to minimize the substrate inhibition, fed-batch fermentation was performed with untreated or hydrolyzed molasses in 7.5 L bioreactor, giving 50.2 +/- 0.53 and 51.1 +/- 0.51 g L-1 of PGA at 96 h, respectively. Further studies were carried out by using MGWL as another carbon source, resulting in a PGA concentration of 52.1 +/- 0.52 g L-1 with a productivity of 0.54 +/- 0.003 g L-1 h(-1). These results suggest that the low-cost cane molasses and MGWL can be used for the environmental-friendly and economical production of PGA by B. subtilis NX-2. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.