Give precision-fermentation startups somewhere to produce at commercial scale. Lack of large food-grade fermentation capacity is a main bottleneck for animal-free dairy and egg proteins reaching shops.
Late-stage construction; production expected in 2026, two years later than first planned.
Updated 15 Jan 2026Checked 11 Oct0 updates this week
Each client supplies a microbe engineered to make its protein, such as a milk whey protein.
Microbes grow in large tanks on sugar; Indiana was chosen partly for access to sugar, shipping routes and workers.
A purification line separates the target protein from the broth and turns it into a sellable ingredient.
| Spec | Richmond Precision Fermentation Plant |
|---|---|
| Fermentation capacity | 600,000 LR (reported) |
| Plant investment | $115MR (reported) |
| Capacity contracted | Over 50% (incl. late-stage talks)R (reported) |
| Jobs | 45R (reported) |
| Site | 36 acres, Richmond, IndianaR (reported) |
R reported by the company
Liberation Bioindustries
Contract precision-fermentation plants
Builds and runs large precision-fermentation plants that make proteins and ingredients for other companies. Formerly Liberation Labs; its first plant, in Richmond, Indiana, is due to start in 2026.
