Last month, BioMADE, the State of Iowa, Iowa State University (ISU), and Iowa State University Research Park celebrated the groundbreaking of a new pilot-scale bio-industrial manufacturing facility near Ames, Iowa. Scheduled to open in 2027, the 15,000-square-foot multi-user site will support the manufacture of products needed by the defense and commercial markets, create new revenue streams for farmers, and reaffirm Iowa’s leadership in biotechnology innovation.  

“This facility provides innovators the space and equipment to test, scale, and bring new ideas to life — ideas that will give our military servicemembers the materials they need to keep us safe,” stated Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds. “It will also bring manufacturing back home, strengthening America’s supply chains for bio-based fabrics, adhesives, plastics, and more, all while creating new markets for Iowa-grown crops.” 

The facility will feature 5,000- and 10,000-liter industrial fermenters, dry and wet lab space, and downstream processing capabilities to support the development of agricultural bio-products, chemicals, and more. It will complement existing Iowa-based programs, like ISU’s Center for Crops Utilization Research, accelerating innovation and scale-up efforts even further.  

Supporting both national economic and defense initiatives, bio-industrial manufacturing leverages domestically grown crops — such as corn, soybeans, and sugar beets — to produce everyday materials and strategic defense products. These include lightweight composites, high temperature-resistant foams, and thermal protection systems, as well as consumer goods like plant-based adhesives, paints and coatings, and bioplastics. 

The facility will help to address a critical gap in U.S. bio-manufacturing infrastructure. Currently, many established biotech companies and startups must scale their products overseas, risking intellectual property loss to global competitors. BioMADE is working with partners at the U.S. Department of War (DoW), Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA), ISU, and the ISU Research Park to avoid these risks and provide the necessary infrastructure for America to lead the global bioeconomy of the twenty-first century.  

“We’re thrilled to be constructing this critically needed facility in Iowa,” said Dr. Douglas Friedman, chief executive officer at BioMADE. “This pilot plant joins a network of forthcoming facilities that will establish the U.S. as a leader in the global bioeconomy, and we’re excited that Iowa will be part of it. Thank you to Governor Reynolds, Iowa State University, and all our partners who made today’s groundbreaking ceremony a major success.”  

BioMADE has committed at least $20 million of the project’s $40 million value, which will be matched by up to $10 million in cost-share contributions from ISU and $10 million in funding from the IEDA’s Strategic Infrastructure Program.  

“This facility represents the missing piece in Iowa’s biomanufacturing ecosystem. With its advanced capabilities and strategic location, it will unlock new opportunities for innovation, commercialization and economic growth, said Debi Durham, Director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority and Iowa Finance Authority. “By bridging the gap between research and industrial scale-up, Iowa is well-positioned to lead the nation in bio-industrial manufacturing—and we’re proud to support this transformative investment.” 

The Iowa facility will join sites in Minnesota and California, as one of the first three projects in BioMADE’s Pilot Plant Network, a system of pilot- to demonstration-scale facilities across the country that will establish the United States as a global leader in bio-manufacturing. Visit www.biomade.org for more information about BioMADE’s infrastructure initiatives.  

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