Leaders discussed the next chapter in America’s bioeconomy, highlighting groundbreaking advancements in genetic engineering, synthetic biology, and biomanufacturing that are reshaping entire sectors of the economy – from pharmaceuticals to sustainable materials; from renewable energy to industrial processes; from food manufacturing to extending healthspans.
Your dependence on the bioeconomy—not just on the production of food and the availability of clean and safe water—is critically important."
Dr. Jeffrey Gold
President
University of Nebraska System
Why is the bioeconomy critical for U.S. competitiveness? According to Dr. Jeffrey Gold, the bioeconomy is integral to addressing some of the world’s most pressing issues, including health, national security, food safety, improving crop yields, and creating healthier products.
For Dr. Mehmood Khan, the bioeconomy offers exciting opportunities for overcoming hunger and improving the health and well-being of aging populations. Dr. Khan noted that one billion people are currently hungry, while another billion are over 60, many facing age-related diseases. “The burden of disease from age is going to rise exponentially. The only way to address that economically, at prices we can afford, is through the bioeconomy.” Given the limited availability of land and water resources, scaling traditional food production is no longer feasible. The bioeconomy, fueled by new technologies, is uniquely positioned to offer scalable solutions.
“Biology has become digitized, and it is now an engineering problem. When you take a discipline, digitize it, and make it an engineering problem, not only do you break it into its components and systems, but you can figure out how to scale and model it.”
Dr. Mehmood Khan
CEO
Hevolution
One catalyst for the rising importance of optimizing the innovation potential for and outcomes of bioeconomy now is the convergence of advanced technologies. Today, biology has become digitized, meaning that we now have the power to break down and model biological problems. With an engineering approach, mathematics, and statistics, we can study a range of biological challenges, like food production. Scientists, engineers, technologists, innovators, and entrepreneurs can then scale these models to serve the country and the world.
Dr. Jonathan McIntyre, with his experience in corporate research and development, focused on the practical challenges faced by early-stage companies in food and agriculture technology. Dr. McIntyre noted that while fermentation technology has been used for centuries, it lacks significant advancements, making large-scale bio-based production difficult. There is a vital need for innovation in the entire bioeconomy supply chain, from feedstock development to the final product. According to Dr. McIntyre, breakthroughs in fermentation, separation sciences, and processing are essential to scaling the bioeconomy and reducing costs to compete with traditional industries.
"What happens in 2050 if we are not number one in the bioeconomy and just say, for example, China is? It would be a missed opportunity for this country because when the United States leads, a rising tide lifts all boats for the rest of the world.”
Mr. Charles O. Holliday, Jr.
Chair Emeritus
Council on Competitiveness and
Chair Global Federation of Competitiveness
Furthermore, Dr. McIntyre argued for holistic thinking across the bioeconomy’s supply chain. While biological innovations are essential, progress in areas such as feedstock production and process engineering will be just as important for scaling the sector. Without advancements in these downstream areas, the bioeconomy will struggle to compete with traditional industries.
However, Mr. Jim Stutelberg, CEO of Primient, provided hope for the future of the U.S. bioeconomy. He expressed confidence in the United States's ability to maintain its leadership, citing its agricultural scale, innovative spirit, and skilled workforce.
Dr. Gold added that more than 50 countries now have bioeconomy strategic plans in place, and many are making substantial investments. While the United States has a technological advantage, Dr. Gold agreed with Mr. Stutelberg that the country needs to focus its efforts and continue to invest in research and development to stay ahead. He and pointed to the United States’s leadership in science, using the COVID-19 vaccine development as an example of how U.S. innovation can benefit the world. Dr. Gold, with Dr. Khan, stressed the importance of federal funding for foundational research, which often takes place in national labs and universities.
“The Council is a great organization to address two major challenges of the bioeconomy, which is the infrastructure challenge and the talent challenge.”
Dr. Jonathan McIntyre
Founding Partner
Nodl Advisors
One area in need of investment for the rise of the bioeconomy is infrastructure. Dr. McIntyre described the “Valley of Death” that many startups face, where they struggle to transition from small-scale experiments to large-scale production. He called for more investment in regional hubs and infrastructure to support the scaling process, referencing a recent government program called BIOMED, which funds such initiatives. In addition to infrastructure, a workforce ready to support the emerging bioscience industries is essential to the survival and expansion of these new economic engines.
The panel then discussed industry collaboration in the bioeconomy, with Dr. Gold acknowledging that public-private partnerships in this space are less advanced compared to healthcare or energy. Dr. Gold called on higher education institutions to take more risks and build partnerships that can keep pace with the bioeconomy’s rapid changes.
Mr. Stutelberg concluded by reflecting on his decision to lead Primient, recognizing the transformative potential of the bioeconomy. Just as chemistry revolutionized industries in the past, biology is now poised to do the same, and plant-based solutions will create a sustainable future.
“Growth opportunities like this do not come around often, and it is important the United States capitalizes on it. The bioeconomy is a generational opportunity."
Mr. Jim Stutelberg
CEO
Primient
In closing, Mr. Stutelberg announced a new Council-led initiative focused on writing the next chapter of the bioeconomy, which he will co-lead. The initiative will aim to develop strategic, policy, and regulatory frameworks to ensure progress of the U.S. bioeconomy, with plans to begin work in mid-2025.
