Biotechnology Industry Organisation commends U.S. Farm Bill proposal
The president of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) commends the new Farm Bill that was passed by the U.S. House Agriculture Committee on July 19 and awaits a vote by the entire House. The legistlation pushes forward the 'bioeconomy' through a set of incentives and subsidies. The entire bioenergy and bioproducts support package may total US$4.5 billion through 2012 (earlier post). BIO presents more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across from 32 nations in Europe and North America.
Jim Greenwood, president and CEO of the organisation released the following statement:
The proposed Farm Bill authorizes both loan guarantees to back construction of next-generation biorefineries and continuation of the Biomass Research & Development Act that supports needed research into reducing the barriers to commercialization of biomass for chemicals, fuels and power.
The proposed Farm Bill also includes significant support for biofuels producers to purchase next-generation energy crops, which will help to lower the cost of producing cellulosic ethanol. It would also create a new biomass energy reserve program that would help pay farmers and communities for the production, harvest and transport of new biomass crops.
Further, the proposal renews and expands the U.S. government’s commitment to purchase biobased products made from renewable resources and to encourage consumer selection of these products through labeling. Biobased products such as bioplastics meet the most important environmental goals, including using less energy and other natural resources in production and lowering greenhouse gas emissions:
energy :: sustainability :: ethanol :: biodiesel :: biobutanol :: biomass :: bioenergy :: biofuels :: bioproducts :: bioplastics :: bioeconomy :: biotechnology ::
Lastly, in addition to research initiatives for bioenergy crop production, the bill creates a training program that will help maintain the product integrity of biotechnology-derived seed and ensure compliance with federal regulations for agricultural biotechnology research.
The next step is to have the entire U.S. House of Representatives vote on the bill and agree on funding these initiatives included in it.
BIO represents more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and 31 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology.
Biopact will soon have an in-depth look at the amount of subsidies and incentives provided by the new legislation. Earlier we noted that the bill now treats sugar for the first time as a feedstock for ethanol and will subsidize its wider use in non-food sectors (previous post).
References:
U.S. House Agriculture Committee: dedicated Farm Bill website.
Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), website.
Jim Greenwood, president and CEO of the organisation released the following statement:
The forward-looking proposals included in the Farm Bill passed July 19 by the House Agriculture Committee can help America lessen its dependence on foreign oil by promoting renewable energy, biobased products, and sustainable new sources of biomass. However, without the necessary funding, the historic promise of the proposed legislation may not be realized.To rapidly achieve a level of biofuel production that will substantially lessen U.S. dependence on imported energy, the biofuels industry needs continued investment both in construction of large-scale biorefineries and in ongoing research and development in enzymes and other biorefinery processes and feedstocks, the president adds.
The proposed Farm Bill authorizes both loan guarantees to back construction of next-generation biorefineries and continuation of the Biomass Research & Development Act that supports needed research into reducing the barriers to commercialization of biomass for chemicals, fuels and power.
The proposed Farm Bill also includes significant support for biofuels producers to purchase next-generation energy crops, which will help to lower the cost of producing cellulosic ethanol. It would also create a new biomass energy reserve program that would help pay farmers and communities for the production, harvest and transport of new biomass crops.
Further, the proposal renews and expands the U.S. government’s commitment to purchase biobased products made from renewable resources and to encourage consumer selection of these products through labeling. Biobased products such as bioplastics meet the most important environmental goals, including using less energy and other natural resources in production and lowering greenhouse gas emissions:
energy :: sustainability :: ethanol :: biodiesel :: biobutanol :: biomass :: bioenergy :: biofuels :: bioproducts :: bioplastics :: bioeconomy :: biotechnology ::
Lastly, in addition to research initiatives for bioenergy crop production, the bill creates a training program that will help maintain the product integrity of biotechnology-derived seed and ensure compliance with federal regulations for agricultural biotechnology research.
The next step is to have the entire U.S. House of Representatives vote on the bill and agree on funding these initiatives included in it.
BIO represents more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and 31 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology.
Biopact will soon have an in-depth look at the amount of subsidies and incentives provided by the new legislation. Earlier we noted that the bill now treats sugar for the first time as a feedstock for ethanol and will subsidize its wider use in non-food sectors (previous post).
References:
U.S. House Agriculture Committee: dedicated Farm Bill website.
Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), website.
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