Leaders in state government, agriculture and education came together at the University of Illinois Monday to take  the next step in making Illinois a biomanufacturing leader. Directors at the Illinois Fermentation and Agriculture Biomanufacturing Tech Hub are announcing millions of dollars for their precision fermentation research impacting farms across the world. The Integrated Biology Research Laboratory at the U of I was designated as one of 31 Regional Innovation and Technology Hubs. iFab  has committed $680 million, and had applied for $70 million more. With the money, iFab would be able to expand its space, have more student interns,  and grow educational programming.

 Governor J.B. Pritzker was at the event saying Illinois has the crops, the agriculture industries, and the higher education programs needed to make the project a huge success.

Precision Fermentation is similar to making beer. Instead of yeast, scientists feed corn sugar to strains and produce polymers and textiles.