Virginia-based agricultural biotechnology company AgroSpheres, Inc. announced the opening of its first commercial biomanufacturing facility in Charlottesville.
The company expects the site to develop and produce biological crop protection solutions that replace chemicals and microplastics on U.S. farms and soil. It added that the plant would decrease dependence on foreign chemical ingredients and address a shortage of premium commercial fermentation facilities in the U.S.
“From produce farms across the country to premium vineyards in Napa Valley, where our first product is already in use for wine, famers now have powerful, natural and domestic options,” AgroSpheres Founder and CEO Payam Pourtaheri said. “Instead of looking overseas for synthetic ingredients or biomanufacturing, we are onshoring the production of American-made biological crop protection right here in Virginia.”
AgroSpheres, Inc.
AgroSpheres stated that its 12,500-square-foot facility will treat hundreds of thousands of acres annually, with plans to expand capacity to millions. The current production capacity includes a metric ton of AgriCell-based formulations and tens of thousands of gallons of FUN-THYME, AgroSpheres' first commercialized product.
The company plans to develop additional products for numerous players in the crop protection space.
The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Albemarle County to secure the project for the Commonwealth, which approved a $200,000 Commonwealth's Opportunity Fund grant. Employee training has been funded through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program. Additionally, the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation provided early backing through its Commonwealth Research Commercialization Fund in 2019.
AgroSpheres has reportedly created 35 jobs and invested $10 million in the region, part of the company's commitment to invest $25 million and create 53 jobs by 2030.
