CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (Chambana Today) — U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth and National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB) Commissioner Paul Arcangeli visited Central Illinois last week to spotlight the region’s growing role in biotech innovation, biomanufacturing, and national security.
Their visit focused on the Illinois Fermentation and Agriculture Biomanufacturing (iFAB) Tech Hub, a dynamic public-private consortium working to scale domestic biomanufacturing capacity and boost economic resilience. From university research labs to commercial processing plants, the tour underscored how Illinois is positioning itself as a national leader in the bioindustrial economy.
“The intersection of emerging biotechnologies and American agriculture is a strategic opportunity to strengthen supply chains, drive innovation, and create jobs,” said NSCEB Commissioner Arcangeli.
On Friday, Sept. 12, Arcangeli and Duckworth engaged with local leaders, entrepreneurs, and academics at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, toured cutting-edge facilities, and held a roundtable discussion on biotechnology’s potential to drive both economic development and national preparedness.
“Illinois is already a hub for agriculture, manufacturing, transportation and technology, making our state ideally positioned to support growing biotech opportunities that will bolster our national security,” Duckworth said.
Among the stops: the Integrated Bioprocessing Research Lab (IBRL) and Food and Nutrition Pilot Processing Plant, where innovation in fermentation, agriculture, and food technology is being tested and scaled in real-world applications. The group also toured ADM’s Decatur plant and Primient, two major players in the region’s expanding bioeconomy.
“The Commission’s report calls for bold federal investments and urgent action to secure U.S. leadership in biotechnology and biomanufacturing,” said Beth Conerty, iFAB Regional Innovation Officer. “We were proud to showcase how Central Illinois is ready to lead that charge.”
The visit is part of the Biotech Across America Roadshow, an initiative launched by the NSCEB to raise awareness of biotechnology’s transformative impact and to promote collaboration among government, academia, and industry.
Participants in the day’s events included a wide range of stakeholders: ADM, Mondelēz International, Sensient Technologies, Parkland College, Richland Community College, the University of Illinois Research Park, and multiple local startups and venture firms, among others.
The NSCEB released its landmark report to Congress in April 2025, outlining strategies to secure U.S. leadership in the global bioeconomy. The report emphasized the need for expanded domestic biomanufacturing capacity, supply chain resilience, and strategic investment.
For more information and to read the NSCEB’s report, visit biotech.senate.gov.