Summary: We describe in this paper a new method for adaptive model-based control of nonlinear dynamic plants using neural networks, fuzzy logic and fractal theory. The new neuro-fuzzy-fractal method combines Soft Computing (SC) techniques with the concept of the fractal dimension for the domain of nonlinear dynamic plant control. The new method for adaptive model-based control has been implemented as a computer program to show that our neuro-fuzzy-fractal approach is a good alternative for controlling nonlinear dynamic plants. We illustrate in this paper our new methodology with the case of controlling biochemical reactors in the food industry. For this case, we use mathematical models for the simulation of bacteria growth for several types of food. The goal of constructing these models is to capture the dynamics of bacteria population in food, so as to have a way of controlling this dynamics for industrial purposes.