Biomanufacturing is a type of manufacturing or biotechnology that utilises biological systems to produce commercially important biomaterials and biomolecules for use in medicines and industrial applications 1.
This post will focus on the manufacturing of artificial proteins for industrial application. An area that leads to sustainable discoveries and creates competitive companies.
Proteins in the materials industry are biomolecules, environmentally-friendly and functionally flexible. They can produce a wide variety of materials by combining different types of amino acids. At mass-production, they can be the core material that transforms industries. But we're not at the stage where we can mass-produce synthetic proteins. And the reason is cost. The fermentative process that produces synthetic proteins is on the order of $100 per kilogram.
A company in Japan called Spiber is making strides in the field of artificial proteins. They've targeted the apparel and transportation equipment market. They presented the world's first spider fibroin-based protein material in collaboration with The North Face back in 2015.
Bolt Threads is also another company advancing the field. They're developing materials for the fashion and beauty industry. [Updated on 24/01/2020]