Cellibre, a leader in sustainable biomanufacturing, announced that it has received a $1.5 million award from the Department of Defense (DoD) under the Distributed Bioindustrial Manufacturing Program (DBIMP). This program aims to strengthen domestic supply chains and maintain the United States’ leadership in biotechnology. The DBIMP will distribute these funds through the Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC) under an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA).
“Globalization over the past 20 years has brought significant benefits, such as lower prices and greater access to goods and services,” said Ben Chiarelli, CEO of Cellibre. “However, it has also fragmented critical supply chains, creating over-reliance on foreign production. During stable periods, consumers don’t notice the risks, but during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, the fragility of global supply chains becomes clear. Establishing domestic chemical production is no longer just a benefit—it’s a national security imperative.”
A report by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), published in April 2024, emphasized the shift in global chemical production. In 2022, China accounted for 44% of global chemical output, a sharp increase from 5% in 1995. China also captured 46% of global capital investment in chemical production that year, largely due to its dominant position as the world’s largest chemical market. This concentration allows China to leverage economies of scale, driving down global prices. The percentage of chemicals reliant on Chinese production is even higher due to the complex interdependencies of global supply chains. Without strategic policy responses from Western nations, their share of chemical production will likely continue to decrease, further deepening reliance on these international supply chains.
Cellibre is focusing on transforming the manufacturing of natural, plant-based compounds. Traditional agricultural production of these compounds is slow and inefficient, unable to meet surges in demand. While natural products are primarily known for their roles in functional foods, clean beauty, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceuticals, they also have industrial uses. Many of the chemicals in Cellibre’s portfolio, for instance, can be used in the production of thermal-setting resins, specific polymers, and energetics.
“The current state of the global chemical supply chain, coupled with our dependence on other countries, underscores the importance of initiatives like those from the DoD,” said Dr. Nicky Caiazza, Chief Scientific Officer at Cellibre. “Biomanufacturing offers a unique opportunity to tap into the United States’ rich agricultural resources to produce chemicals domestically, eliminating the need for complex supply chains and reducing reliance on foreign manufacturing. Our technologies are designed to produce higher-quality chemicals at lower costs than traditional methods, leading to more resilient supply chains for our customers, government partners, and U.S. taxpayers.”
