Biomanufacturing startup Liberation Labs broke ground on its first purpose-built precision fermentation facility in Richmond, Indiana, late last month.
The facility will produce proteins and other ingredients like those found in eggs, dairy or sweeteners, from reengineered microbes, like yeast, at scale. The contract manufacturer said its facility will fill a “pressing need” among new and established consumer packaged goods companies.
Liberation Labs is one of several manufacturers working to grow precision fermentation capacity in the U.S. A lack of domestic facilities has pushed food companies using fermentation to rely on overseas research facilities to scale up or, for those who could afford it, to build their own.
The company chose Richmond, Indiana, to house its first of six planned facilities for its access to multiple shipping routes, talent pool and key materials like sugar.
The Richmond facility will have a capacity of 600,000 liters and is expected to begin commercial production at the end of 2024, according to a release. By offering a domestic location rather than relying on overseas sites, the company says that it will help customers lower end-costs and make their products more cost-competitive.
“Despite strong consumer interest in bio-based products, the industry has yet to fully deliver on their promise,” Liberation Labs co-founder and CEO Mark Warner said in a statement. “We believe our purpose-built biomanufacturing facility will fill the gap.”
