Biosphere, a California-based startup developing UV-sterilised bioreactors, has secured a $9 million grant from the US Department of Defense over 3.5 years to develop portable bioreactors producing protein via gas fermentation. Founded in 2022, Biosphere's core technology uses UV light instead of costly steam-in-place systems to sterilise bioreactors, reducing capital and maintenance costs whilst enabling smaller, more productive designs. The company has validated the technology at benchtop scale and is developing a 20,000-litre demonstration facility. The DoD project will produce a prototype with continuous operation capabilities, UV sterilisation protocols, water and media recycling systems, and downstream processing. Biosphere recently acquired intellectual property from a distressed gas fermentation company making "protein from air" to deploy in the project, according to co-founder Brian Heligman.

Pentagon funds innovative bioreactor project for sustainable protein production from air. Key points. * Biosphere secures $9 million from DoD to develop portable bioreactors for protein production. * The project will utilize UV sterilization to reduce biomanufacturing costs and enhance efficiency. * Gas fermentation technology will be explored for producing food and feed from unconventional feedstocks. * Challenges remain in scaling gas fermentation, particularly in sourcing sustainable hydrogen. Biosphere, a California-based startup, has recently received a significant financial boost from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), securing a grant of $9 million over a period of 3.5 years to develop innovative portable bioreactors designed to produce protein through gas fermentation. This initiative aligns with the DoD's strategic focus on biomanufacturing, aimed at creating distributed production systems capable of operating in environments where traditional supply channels are compromised. The project will ultimately produce a prototype bioreactor that operates continuously, utilizing UV sterilization methods, which are intended to streamline operations and enhance the efficiency of biomanufacturing processes. The innovative approach by Biosphere focuses on employing ultraviolet light for sterilization, which eliminates the need for traditional, expensive steam-in-place systems typically used in bioreactor operations. This is expected to not only reduce capital and operational expenses but also allow for the development of smaller, more productive bioreactors that are less constrained by existing sterilization protocols. Following validations at various scales, Biosphere is moving towards a 20,000-liter demonstration facility, showcasing their commitment to advancing biomanufacturing technology. Gas fermentation, while primarily known for producing fuel and chemicals, is increasingly being recognized for its potential in food and feed production. The DoD project will delve into innovative bioreactor designs that facilitate gas fermentation processes, particularly focusing on using gases as feedstocks instead of traditional sugars. This could lead to lower input costs and longer fermentation campaigns due to reduced contamination risks. However, challenges persist, especially in handling gases like hydrogen, which has limited solubility in liquid, complicating the gas-liquid mixing process critical for effective fermentation. Biosphere aims to tackle these challenges by developing bioreactor systems designed specifically for gas fermentation applications, emphasizing low-cost and efficient scaling opportunities. The strategic involvement with the DoD is seen as critical to exploring more avant-garde designs that might otherwise be overlooked in the private sector, where more conservative approaches dominate. Moving forward, Biosphere sees potential in collaborating with other gas fermentation companies, perhaps through technology licensing or joint ventures, to further innovate in this promising yet complex field of biomanufacturing. Overall, the funding from the Pentagon not only exemplifies a commitment to advancing biotechnological solutions but also highlights the growing interest in sustainable protein production methods that harness atmospheric gases, including hydrogen, to meet future food production needs. May 5, 2026 at 07:00 PM California, United States

Biosphere awarded $9 million U.S. Army contract to develop on-demand nutrition production system for warfighters. By GlobeNewswire May 5, 2026 OAKLAND, Calif., May 05, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - Biosphere, a U.S.-based pioneer in biomanufacturing technology, today announced the award of an Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreement with a total potential value of up to $9 million. The agreement was awarded by the Office of the Undersecretary of War (OSW) Manufacturing Science and Technology Program (MSTP) via the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center (DEVCOM SC). Consisting of a baseline effort and three subsequent options, the project will fund the development of a portable biomanufacturing system capable of producing protein rations from air, water, and energy. This initiative aligns with the Department of War's (DoW) strategic focus on biomanufacturing and contested logistics-priorities supported by a planned investment of over $300 million in bioindustrial manufacturing for fiscal year 2026. This 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 technology 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," said Brian Heligman, PhD, Co-Founder and CEO of Biosphere. "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." The project will progress through multiple phases, beginning with process selection and design, advancing through pilot-scale demonstrations, and culminating in a full-scale prototype capable of continuous operation. Key innovations include UV sterilization protocols for contamination-free production, water and media recycling systems, and downstream processing to create lightweight, nutrient-dense, ready-to-eat foods. "This effort reflects the military's focus on advancing resilient, forward-deployed capabilities that reduce logistical burden and enhance operational flexibility," said Nicole Favreau Farhadi, Technical Lead, U.S. Army DEVCOM Soldier Center. "Technologies that enable on-site production of critical resources, beginning with nutrition, represent an important step toward more adaptive and distributed sustainment in future operating environments." Building on this capability, Arye Lipman, Co-Founder and COO of Biosphere, added: "This program will validate our platform's ability to deliver autonomous, point-of-need biomanufacturing. While nutrition is the initial application, the platform can produce fuels, chemicals, and advanced materials, with potential to expand distributed manufacturing in remote and resource-constrained environments." The contract was awarded through the Army's ACC-APG Natick Division, Combat Feeding Division which leads research and development efforts in Soldier nutrition and combat feeding systems. Work will be performed at Biosphere's facilities in California, with final product samples delivered to the Combat Feeding Division for evaluation. About Biosphere Biosphere is developing next-generation biomanufacturing systems designed for scale, reliability, and cost efficiency. By replacing traditional steam-based infrastructure with proprietary UV sterilization, the company enables simpler, modular production that can be deployed anywhere. Biosphere serves as a manufacturing partner for the bioeconomy, supporting the production of food, fuels, chemicals, and materials through efficient, rapidly deployable systems. Its platform is designed to unlock new categories of bioproduction and strengthen domestic supply chains. For more information, visit www.biosphere.io About DEVCOM Soldier Center The DEVCOM Soldier Center is committed to discovering, developing, and advancing science and technology solutions that ensure America's warfighters are optimized, protected, and lethal. DEVCOM Soldier Center supports all of the Army's Modernization efforts, with the Soldier Lethality and Synthetic Training Environment Cross Functional Teams being the DEVCOM Soldier Center's chief areas of focus. The center's science and engineering expertise are combined with collaborations with industry, DOD, and academia to advance Soldier and squad performance. The center supports the Army as it transforms from being adaptive to driving innovation to support a Multi-Domain Operations Capable Force of 2028 and a MDO Ready Force of 2035. DEVCOM Soldier Center is constantly working to strengthen Soldiers' performance to increase readiness and support for warfighters who are organized, trained, and equipped for prompt and sustainable ground combat. Media Contact: Emily Richard Communications Strategy Group (CSG) [email protected]