Bioreactors, reporting for duty: Department of War taps Biosphere to produce army rations out of thin air
In California, biomanufacturer Biosphere has been awarded a Department of War Other Transaction Authority agreement to develop an on-demand nutrition production system for warfighters. With a potential value of $9 million, the project will fund the development of a portable biomanufacturing system capable of producing protein rations from air, water, and energy.
Specifically, the 42-month contract funds the design, development, and demonstration of a field-deployable system that synthesizes ready-to-eat meals for warfighters operating in contested, remote, and logistically constrained environments.
The DoW aims to reduce reliance on complex supply chains by enabling on-site production of 2,800 calories per person per day for up to 18 warfighters, with plans to scale the system to support 250 personnel.
“This contract represents a significant milestone in our mission to advance rapidly deployable biomanufacturing systems,” Brian Heligman, PhD, Co-Founder and CEO of Biosphere, said in a press statement. “By leveraging our proprietary UV-sterilized bioreactor technology, we’re developing a system that can produce nutritious, shelf-stable food anywhere, eliminating traditional supply chain constraints and enhancing operational readiness for our military.”
Category: Chemicals & Materials
