Advancing circular bioeconomy technologies in North San Joaquin Valley (CA)

Circular Bioeconomy Innovation Collaborative (CBIO Collaborative)

CBIO Collaborative is a diverse coalition of partners who have come together to design and launch an innovation engine in the North San Joaquin Valley of California. The Collaborative is the recipient of a NSF Engines Development Award

NSF Engines Development Award: Advancing circular bioeconomy technologies in North San Joaquin Valley (CA)

This NSF Engines Development Award will support the design and establishment of an innovation engine for the circular bioeconomy in California’s North San Joaquin Valley (NSJV), an integrated economic region in California’s agricultural heartland, consisting of Merced, Stanislaus, and San Joaquin Counties. 

The engine will focus in particular on solutions in bioindustrial manufacturing aimed at transforming sustainable sources of organic material, such as waste residues from agriculture, into useful products and materials. The NSJV is uniquely positioned to lead in bioindustrial manufacturing due to an unparalleled combination of large-scale food and agricultural activity, manufacturing capacity, and proximity to hubs of biotechnology innovation. 

The innovation engine will (a) drive use-inspired research and development to address knowledge gaps related to feedstock diversification, advanced biomanufacturing process optimization, and equipment of the future for producing new bioproducts at scale; (b) support  translation of basic discoveries into scalable bioproduction solutions that meet market demands and address global sustainability challenges; and (c) develop aligned workforce development systems that create a talent pipeline and expand inclusive access to high quality local jobs in this emerging sector.

Anticipated Outcomes

The NSJV is a historically underserved region, with high poverty rates, low relative educational attainment, and significant environmental justice and public health challenges. It is also a region of vibrant diversity with a rich agricultural legacy, and is ripe with untapped potential for leadership in innovation.

By building a regional specialization in bioindustrial manufacturing, the NSJV will:

  • Nurture a more vibrant and inclusive regional economy that expands access to family-sustaining jobs

  • Accelerate the national transition to a net-zero carbon economy through advancement of bio-enabled climate solutions

  • Promote a more resilient and sustainable food and agriculture system

  • Improve environmental and public health outcomes among vulnerable communities that surround agricultural activities

  • Advance racial equity and build community wealth through sector and workforce development strategies that center diversity, equity, inclusion, and access

About the collaborative

Joint Management Team 

CBIO Collaborative is co-led by a joint management team representing leadership in bioeconomy industry innovation, education and workforce development, and inclusive economic development. The JMT serve as lead personnel for the NSF Engines Development Award.

Professor Paul P. Maglio, UC Merced (PI/PD)
Karen Warner, BEAM Circular (Co-PD)
Dr. Deepti Tanjore, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, ABPDU (Co-PI)
Professor Gerardo Diaz, UC Merced (Co-PI)
Dr. James Gardner, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, ABPDU (Senior Personnel)
Professor Tea Lempiälä, UC Merced (Senior Personnel)

Leadership Council

The Leadership Council is responsible for guiding the strategic direction of the CBIO Collaborative is continuing to build its ecosystem of collaborators, including working groups responsible for developing specific strategies and plans for the engine. Working Group topic areas include a) Use-Inspired R&D; b) Translation of Innovation into Practice; c) Workforce Development; d) Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Access (DEIA) and Community Impact.  

For more information about CBIO Collaborative Leadership Council members, click here. 

To learn more about how to get involved, email info@cbioinnovation.org.

About the NSF Engines Program

The NSF Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines) program is a bold new initiative, committed to creating regional-scale, technology-driven innovation ecosystems throughout every region of the United States, accelerating emerging technologies, driving economic growth, addressing key societal challenges, and maintaining national competitiveness. For more information, please visit the NSF Engines program website

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