Biden to spur biomanufacturing, reduce dependence on China with an executive order – newsdubai
President Joe Biden is poised to sign an executive order to help expand U.S. bio production and reduce dependence on China.
The draft executive order lays out a strategy to boost domestic manufacturing that harnesses biological systems to create a wide range of products and materials, from new drugs and human tissue to biofuels and food, according to people with knowledge of the matter, who asked not to be identified. be identified as details of the order are not yet public.
The United States has one of the world’s most robust biotech industries, and while it has been a leader in research and development, it has allowed high-tech manufacturing to migrate overseas. US national security and intelligence officials are particularly concerned about the reliance on China’s advanced biomanufacturing infrastructure.
The Covid-19 pandemic created a sense of urgency to develop a clear and consistent industrial strategy, according to two of the people, who pointed to the rapid development and production of messenger RNA vaccines as an example of successful domestic investment. Looking beyond healthcare, the US will aim to promote biomanufacturing in agriculture, energy and other industries.
The order will outline how the United States will develop an educated workforce capable of using naturally occurring processes to create bio-based products and materials, the people said. The Biden administration plans to deploy resources to support the scale-out of biomanufacturing infrastructure, although it is not yet clear whether funds are available to support the executive order.
The White House will suggest that improving domestic biomanufacturing will ultimately lower prices and strengthen supply chain security, according to the people.
Two weeks ago, Biden signed an executive order to boost domestic semiconductor production, which is also part of the administration’s efforts to rebalance the U.S.’s competition with China.
In May, China’s National Development and Reform Commission released a 5-year plan for bioeconomy development, which outlined efforts to accelerate new technologies and spur growth in healthcare, agriculture and fuel. As tensions rise between the US and China, the Biden administration has been looking for ways to curb investment in China’s industries.
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