$51 Million Federal Grant for Precision Fermentation Hub to Drive Innovation, Growth, and Job Creation in Illinois – vegconomist

The Illinois Fermentation and Agriculture Biomanufacturing (iFAB) Tech Hub has secured approximately $51 million in federal funding from the US Economic Development Administration (EDA) as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Tech Hubs Program.
The grant, which will support significant infrastructure expansions, aims to position Central Illinois as a global leader in biomanufacturing, promoting economic growth, job creation, and national security.
“Today’s EDA grant not only acknowledges but actively fuels our mission to establish Central Illinois as a pivotal biomanufacturing player on the global stage”
The iFAB is supported by Innovate Illinois, a strategic initiative by Governor JB Pritzker and co-chaired by the University of Illinois Chancellor Robert J. Jones. Led by the Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory (IBRL) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, it has secured over $680 million in cash match and strategic investments, demonstrating robust backing from multiple stakeholders.
Governor JB Pritzker said, “Thanks to this $51 million investment from our federal partners, the iFAB consortium will have the resources they need to expand their cutting-edge research and bring innovation and growth to Central Illinois for decades to come.”
© iFAB Tech Hub
Infrastructure expansion
The EDA grant will support a $40 million expansion of the IBRL, including upgrading to a 1500 L capacity. Additionally, it will enable consortium members Primient and Synonym to increase fermentation capacity to 13,000 L. Meanwhile, ADM will use Phase 2 funding to upgrade its Decatur precision fermentation facility to 80,000 L.
The EDA funding will also help formalize leadership roles and support the hiring of additional staff to manage the initiatives of the iFAB Tech Hub.
iFAB aims to set new industry standards and become a preeminent destination for biomanufacturing by combining world-class R&D, industry leadership, and strong local partnerships. According to the announcement, the precision fermentation industry is anticipated to reach $200 billion by 2040, potentially creating one million jobs by 2030.
University of Illinois Chancellor Robert J. Jones commented, “Today’s EDA grant not only acknowledges but actively fuels our mission to establish Central Illinois as a pivotal biomanufacturing player on the global stage. With these new resources, we are equipped to accelerate our initiatives, ensuring that our region not only meets but sets the gold standard for biomanufacturing innovation.”
© New Culture
Investing in alternative proteins
Precision fermentation is vital in developing sustainable alternatives to fossil fuel and animal-based products to support a growing global population and planetary health.
A recent Boston Consulting Group report suggests that if alternative proteins achieve a 50% market share of the global protein market, they would reduce GHG emissions from agriculture and land use by nearly a third by 2050. This reduction equates to mitigating five gigatons of CO2 equivalents annually, comparable to removing 50% of gas-fueled cars from the roads.
The report points out a stark disparity in funding, with alternative proteins receiving considerably less government support than, for example, the electric vehicle industry. Increased investment from governments and investors is crucial for alternative proteins to achieve its full economic, environmental, and food security benefits, argue the authors of the report. As such, developments such as this in Illinois, are pivotal, and it is vital that other policymakers follow suit.
Nicole Bateman, president of the Economic Development Corporation of Decatur & Macon County, shared, “This landmark investment in iFAB’s vision and infrastructure will allow the U.S. to rival Europe and China, who have been investing heavily in this space.”

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