Want to Grow the Economy? Try Fermenting It Instead

Authors

Peter Emanuel
Brian Feeney
Diane DiEuliis, Center for the Study of Weapons of Mass Destruction, Institute of National Strategic Studies, National Defense University

Files

Description

This commentary argues that the post-COVID-19 economic recovery presents a unique opportunity to prioritize biotechnology and biomanufacturing as engines of economic growth and national security. The authors contend that pandemic disruptions exposed long-standing weaknesses in U.S. manufacturing and supply chains, particularly over-reliance on foreign sources for critical materials. They describe how advances in robotics, artificial intelligence, and synthetic biology are transforming industry and argue that the United States must invest in domestic bio-industrial capacity, workforce retraining, and technological innovation to compete with global rivals, especially China, in emerging biotechnologies. Emphasizing that biomanufacturing can strengthen economic resilience and strategic autonomy, the article calls for an integrated policy approach to build a more robust, locally anchored industrial base.

Document Type

Article

Topic(s)

National Security, Emerging Science and Technologies, Defense Policy

Region(s)

United States, China

Publication Date

3-11-2021

Keywords

biotechnology, biomanufacturing, bio-industrial base, economic growth, COVID-19 recovery, U.S. manufacturing, supply chain resilience, synthetic biology, industrial policy, workforce retraining, national security, China competition

Recommended Citation

Emanuel, Peter; Feeney, Brian; and DiEuliis, Diane, "Want to Grow the Economy? Try Fermenting It Instead" (2021). Strategic Insights. 20.
https://digitalcommons.ndu.edu/strategic-insights/20