BioMADE announced 17 new projects designed to scale up and commercialize American biomanufactured products. These initiatives include producing biodegradable plastics, upcycling waste to create new products, certification programs to prepare the workforce for the U.S. bioeconomy, and developing cell-free systems for commodity chemicals.

These projects highlight the breadth of BioMADE’s membership, representing 30 organizations across 18 states—from New York to Texas—in the private and nonprofit sectors, academic research institutions, and community colleges. The work aims to revitalize U.S. manufacturing by advancing bioindustrial production of components in everyday items, reshoring manufacturing jobs, and bolstering a domestic supply chain of commodity and platform chemicals. This announcement reflects BioMADE’s mission to enhance the competitiveness of the U.S. bioindustrial manufacturing industry.

“America’s leadership in research must be matched by leadership in process and scale-up capability. That is what today’s biomanufacturing announcement is all about,” said Arati Prabhakar, assistant to the president for science and technology and director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. “That’s how the vision of engineering living cells to sustainably produce chemicals, materials, and structures will become a reality. Thanks to the leadership of President Biden and Vice President Harris, we can lead the world in biomanufacturing.”

“The next five to 10 years will determine the global leader of the bioeconomy. At BioMADE, we believe the U.S. is uniquely positioned to seize this opportunity,” said Dr. Douglas Friedman, CEO of BioMADE. “We are proud to support these member-driven projects that will translate our country’s rich history of biotechnology innovation into manufacturing leadership. All Americans will benefit from investments in America’s bioindustrial manufacturing future.”

Bioindustrial manufacturing uses biological systems—including microbes such as bacteria, yeast, and algae—to produce materials and chemicals incorporated into products like bio-based cement, plant-based nylon, paints, and adhesives. These processes use U.S. feedstocks such as corn, woody biomass, waste gases, and agricultural waste, creating new markets for farmers, spurring rural job growth, ending reliance on foreign material imports, and manufacturing sustainable products domestically.

“The U.S. has all the foundational pieces to build a flourishing bioeconomy. Working collaboratively across the public and private sectors, we can overcome challenges on the road to commercialization,” said Dr. Melanie Tomczak, head of programs and chief technology officer at BioMADE. “Our incredible members are developing the technology behind the bio-based products of tomorrow. These projects will help bridge the gap between bioindustrial manufacturing and U.S. consumers, stocking store shelves with more sustainable products and giving ‘Made in America’ a renewed meaning.”

By supporting the scale-up of bioindustrial manufacturing technology from research labs to commercial production, BioMADE and its network of nearly 300 members across 37 states are strengthening American competitiveness, securing the U.S. supply chain, reshoring manufacturing jobs, supporting rural development and agriculture, and producing more sustainable products untethered from reliance on petroleum. BioMADE is also building a diverse and globally competitive STEM workforce, preparing workers to fill new jobs throughout the U.S. bioindustrial manufacturing ecosystem, including BioMADE’s national infrastructure network of pilot-scale facilities.

BioMADE was catalyzed by the U.S. Department of Defense and is a proud member of Manufacturing USA®. Read more about the new projects and learn about BioMADE at biomade.org.