Biden Administration Announces Goals to Advance Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing

Last month, the Biden Administration announced “new bold goals and priorities” to promote American biotechnology and biomanufacturing.  The announcement comes after a September 2022 executive order intended to bolster biotechnological innovation.

“Biomanufacturing – or the use of biological systems to produce goods and services at commercial scale – has the potential to drive new sustainable alternatives across industries, including plastics, fuels, and medicines,” the Administration stated.  “These innovations can unlock new solutions in health, climate change, energy, food security, agriculture, supply chain resilience, and national and economic security.”

The announcement included the release of several documents related to biotechnology and biomanufacturing, including a report jointly authored by multiple agencies that outlines ten goals and associated R&D needs for biotechnological innovation.  The goals fall under four themes: development of more carbon-neutral transportation and stationary fuels, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in chemicals and materials production, development of climate-focused agricultural systems and plants, and carbon dioxide removal.  The White House Office of Science and Technology is in the process of developing an implementation plan to address the R&D needs identified by the report.

The announcement also released a Department of Defense (DOD) memorandum establishing the Department’s biomanufacturing strategy, which will guide nearly $1.5 billion in DOD biomanufacturing-related investments. The strategy focuses on three key priorities: establishing the customers within the DOD that stand to benefit from early-stage innovations, advancing biomanufacturing capabilities through innovation, and mapping the biomanufacturing ecosystem and tracking metrics that support future efforts.  The Department is also issuing a formal request for information on biomanufactured products and process capabilities that could address defense needs.