US President Joe Biden has launched an ambitious $2 billion plan to boost the bioeconomy and biotechnology in the US. The aim of this so-called National Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Initiative is, among other things, to lower prices for citizens, create jobs, secure the supply of medicines, fuel, chemicals and materials and reduce CO2 emissions.
Several ministries and (government) agencies are involved in the initiative. The role of the Department of Defense (DoD) is striking. Over a period of five years, DoD will invest a total of $1 billion in establishing a domestic production infrastructure for the biobased industry. This support should provide an incentive to expand production capacity for products that are important for both the commercial and defense chains, such as critical chemicals. An additional $200 million will also go toward improving the biosafety and cybersecurity posture of these production facilities.
Furthermore, Defense is launching a $270 million program to accelerate the valorization of research into products and new, advanced biobased materials for defense supply chains, such as fuels, fire-resistant composites, polymers and resins, and protective materials.
Sustainable biomass
The Ministries of Energy, Transport and Agriculture will work together to better utilize sustainable biomass and waste sources (1 million tonnes per year) for domestic supply chains for fuels, chemicals and materials. Biden expects these efforts will lower prices for American households, especially during times of global supply chain turmoil.
Agriculture will also provide $500 million through a new grant program to support independent, innovative and sustainable U.S. fertilizer production for American farmers.
In May 2022, Agriculture also announced $32 million in subsidies for wood innovations. An additional $93 million in partner funds will be mobilized to develop new wood products and effectively use America's forests.
To expand biomanufacturing for active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), antibiotics and raw materials for essential medicines, the Ministry of Health is investing $40 million.
Energy
The Department of Energy is allocating up to $100 million for research and development (R&D) for the conversion of biomass into fuels and chemicals, including the production and recycling of bio-based plastics.
Energy also doubles current investments in scaling up biotechnology and biomanufacturing, totaling $60 million. This should lead to the commercialization of biorefineries that produce renewable chemicals and fuels. The aim is to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transport, industry and agriculture and make them less risky.
Finally, there are various programs aimed at, among other things, the integration of technology, IT and arithmetic with biology, the scale-up of the manufacturing, commercialization and marketing of bio-based products and alternative foods, the drawing up of standards and the stimulation of training in the field of biotechnology
Source: Agro & Chemistry
