These initiatives represent focused efforts for which strategic R&D investment can both lead to breakthroughs in specific areas and have ripple effects across the entire bioeconomy. Rather than viewing each initiative in isolation, we encourage you to consider how advancements in one area could benefit others. For instance, progress in biomanufacturing for vaccine production could drive improvements in protein diversification and biomass supply chains, leveraging the same technologies and processes to increase food security and enhance the scalability of bio-manufactured products.
As you explore the initiatives, look also for synergistic goals (e.g., sustainability, resource efficiency, circular economies, and workforce development) and similarities in technology use (e.g., artificial intelligence and machine learning, data infrastructure). For example, the AgSystems initiative, which focuses on systems-level breeding of resilient plants and animals, aligns naturally with efforts in the Diversifying Edible Proteins initiative to create new, sustainable sources for food and feed. Both initiatives depend on advances in biotechnology and data-driven tools, and each would reinforce the other by sharing methodologies and food-related outcomes.
Also, consider the complementary outcomes that might arise from one initiative ‘feeding’ another. For example, the Carbon Capture and the Value from Waste Carbon initiatives, which both include efforts to capture and convert carbon gases, will simultaneously reduce atmospheric carbon and provide new feedstocks for biomanufacturing processes, such as those included in the Resilient Supply Chains initiative. Collectively, these three initiatives would contribute to production of sustainable materials and reduced reliance on fossil-based energy, such that investments in these areas could revolutionize how we fulfill industrial needs while mitigating environmental challenges.
By approaching the initiatives with an eye for these synergies, you will gain insights into how these targeted R&D efforts not only solve immediate challenges, but also lay the foundation for broader advancements across the U.S. bioeconomy, creating a more interconnected, resilient, and sustainable future.