BioMADE Announces $6.4 Million Investment to Advance Innovative Defense-Oriented Products through Bioindustrial Manufacturing
BioMADE is pleased to announce three new projects funded through its Sustainable Logistics for Advanced Manufacturing Project Call that will protect and support warfighters and secure domestic supply chains for needed products through bioindustrial manufacturing. The projects are producing DoD-relevant lubricants from food waste streams; innovative bio-based fabrics that better protect warfighters; and carbon fiber for use in defense, aerospace, and commercial applications.
These projects showcase the power of bioindustrial manufacturing to create or improve needed defense materials, enhance national security, and provide flexibility for forward-deployed manufacturing in austere environments. Innovative processes like using waste streams as feedstocks and will help the U.S. build a more resilient supply chain, ultimately improving U.S. autonomy and defense while also being cost-competitive. The projects are:
Continuous Biomanufacturing of High-Value Products from Food Waste – Researchers are producing DoD-relevant lubricants from food waste streams. This technology has the potential to provide a more secure and locally available domestic supply chain of DoD-relevant products. Although lubricants are integral to the operation of nearly every piece of equipment in use by the American warfighter today, the manufacturing of lubricants is increasingly vulnerable to global supply chain risks. Read more.
Member team: Capra Biosciences, Inc. (VA), Virginia Tech (VA)Bio-Based Carbon Fiber Manufacturing Process – This project will develop a cost-competitive, domestic manufacturing process for carbon fiber using waste products, such as ethanol and carbon dioxide. Carbon fiber has many applications, including defense, aerospace, and commercial. Bio-based carbon fiber produced using this technology is projected to cost 10-30% less than traditional carbon fiber. This could significantly expand U.S. manufacturing capacity and applications for this lightweight, strong material while also creating an alternative, more secure, and cost-competitive domestic supply chain. Read more.
Member: Industrial Microbes (CA) and Georgia Tech University (GA), FERMWORX (GA)A Biomanufacturing Approach to Textile Fibers from Spent Yeast – Researchers are investigating the use of spent yeast to create textile fibers with enhanced properties such as physical durability, repellency to water and oil, and burn protection for warfighters. This project will increase availability of domestically manufactured textiles for a variety of commercial and defense applications to protect against global supply chain disruptions. Read more.
Member team: Tandem Repeat (PA), ARCTOS (OH), University of Georgia (GA)