A coalition of industry leaders has formed to advance scalable and secure biomanufacturing capabilities in the U.S.

The American Alliance for Biomanufacturing (AAB) is “committed to advancing U.S. leadership in biomanufacturing innovation, competitiveness, and resilience.”

Launched on May 21, the Alliance brings together stakeholders from across the industrial biomanufacturing ecosystem, including CEOs and executives from companies such as Pivot Bio, Novonesis North America, and Kula Bio. The formation of AAB follows recent calls by the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB) for a coordinated, national strategy to ensure U.S. global leadership in industrial biomanufacturing, which uses biological systems to manufacture products in the agriculture industry and other sectors including energy, defense, chemicals, ingredients, sweeteners, materials, fabrics, and nutrition.

According to Brooke Coleman, executive director of the Alliance, biomanufacturing technologies are advancing, enabling the production of better fertilizers, stickier resins, healthier ingredients, more durable nylon, and sustainable plastics. “By working together, and recognizing global realities, we can ensure that the United States maintains its competitive edge in developing and scaling the biological products and processes that will define the 21st century economy,” Coleman said.

The Alliance is focusing on two objectives: supercharging U.S. demand for bio-based products and technologies; and ensuring market readiness for existing and novel bioproducts. It will also seek to strengthen domestic supply chains for biological materials, equipment and technologies to enhance U.S. global competitiveness.

“Biomanufacturing gives us the tools to solve real problems in real communities. We are talking about higher crop yields from healthier soil, better animal welfare, food that stays fresher longer, and cleaner air and water,” said Tue Michelsen, president of Novonesis North America. “For everyday Americans, that means more nutritious food on the table, fewer chemicals in our environment, and products that support better health and quality of life.”

Chris Abbot, CEO of Pivot Bio, added that by strengthening American biomanufacturing, “we can deliver better-performing, lower-cost agricultural inputs that do not rely on complex international supply chains. That means more money in farmers’ pockets, less risk to U.S. supply chains, and cleaner air and water for us all.”

Kula Bio’s co-founder and CEO, Bill Brady, said the U.S. can lead in the global biomanufacturing revolution, “providing the world with critically needed innovation to reduce input cost, build high paying jobs, and improve sustainability for future generations. We welcome the focus and attention that the American Alliance for Biomanufacturing will bring to help seize this opportunity for continued American innovation and leadership.”