NSCEB and Senator Duckworth visit highlights biomanufacturing innovation in ACES
Last week, members of the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology joined U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth in her home state to explore Illinois’ role in strengthening national security and developing greater economic resilience through biotechnology innovation, entrepreneurship, and biomanufacturing.
On Friday, September 12th, NSCEB Commissioner Paul Arcangeli and Senator Duckworth heard from industry leaders, academic stakeholders, and local government officials at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign about the national impact of the Illinois Fermentation and Agriculture Biomanufacturing Tech Hub (iFAB) and opportunities for growth, particularly in biomanufacturing, precision fermentation innovation, and agricultural technology.
“The intersection of emerging biotechnologies and American agriculture is a strategic opportunity to strengthen supply chains, drive innovation, and create jobs,” said NSCEB Commissioner Paul Arcangeli. “By advancing bio-based production, we not only ensure resilience against global disruptions but also unlock sustainable economic growth that protects national security and bolsters American competitiveness.”
“Illinois is already a hub for agriculture, manufacturing, transportation and technology, making our state ideally positioned to support growing biotech opportunities that will bolster our national security,” said Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL). “I was proud to welcome the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology to Illinois, and I’m thrilled that programs like iFAB are making it clear that we have a strong framework in place.”
Event Details
The event was hosted by iFAB, a consortium of biotechnology partners focused on driving economic growth by connecting industry leaders with innovative start-ups and local resources and raw materials. The iFAB Tech Hub is headquartered in the Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory, part of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at U. of I.
After engaging with industry leaders on the critical link between entrepreneurship and workforce development and experiencing the region’s biomanufacturing capacity firsthand with tours of the ADM Decatur plant and Primient, Commissioner Arcangeli joined Senator Duckworth for a roundtable discussion on how biotechnology enhances national security and economic resilience. They then toured the Integrated Bioprocessing Research Lab and Food and Nutrition Pilot Processing Plant facilities to see innovation at work in central Illinois.
“Today we were pleased to welcome the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology to our iFAB Tech Hub,” said Beth Conerty, iFAB Regional Innovation Officer and Associate Director of Business Development for IBRL. “The Commission’s report calls for bold federal investments and urgent action to secure U.S. leadership in biotechnology and biomanufacturing. The report validates the very foundation of iFAB’s mission to advance domestic biomanufacturing capabilities, reduce reliance on foreign production, and strengthen U.S. economic and national security, which we were proud to showcase today. The demand for U.S.-based biomanufacturing capacity far exceeds current capabilities, but the iFAB Tech Hub stands out as a ready-built model for scaling biomanufacturing innovation and commercialization. Our consortium members have spent decades developing research, scaling technology from the lab to production line. With unmatched access to world-class research, agricultural feedstocks, and a growing pipeline of public and private investment, iFAB is uniquely positioned to lead the next era of U.S. biomanufacturing from the heart of Central Illinois.”