Good Day BIO: 2021 was year of 'key work' on climate, says USDA

Finally, some good news: USDA (with support from BIO and industry) took several key actions on climate in 2021, and survival rates are increasing for certain lung and blood cancers. (603 words, 3 minutes)

USDA: 2021 was year of ‘key work...to combat climate change’

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has taken key actions to combat climate change over the past year, the agency announced yesterday—and BIO has been right there with them to ensure biotech plays a key role.

Here are a few key accomplishments—and how biotech responded: 

“USDA began the Climate Smart Agriculture and Forestry Partnership Initiative to finance climate-smart commodity production to create new market opportunities that meets growing demand.” 

BIO’s action: As a member of the steering committee of the Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance (FACA), we supported the initiative as a way to scale voluntary adoption of climate-smart practices. 

USDA launched the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM),which puts agriculture at the center of climate action. Launched by the U.S. and United Arab Emirates with 31 countries at COP26, it’s part of the Biden administration’s commitment to a “whole-of-government approach” to the climate crisis. 

BIO’s action: BIO joined AIM as one of nearly 50 non-governmental Knowledge Partners. 

USDA launched several programs to support the development and deployment of advanced biofuels, notably with the Sustainable Aviation Fuels Grand Challenge, which aims to increase SAF production by 3 billion gallons by 2030 and meet 100% of U.S. aviation fuel demand by 2050. 

BIO’s action: BIO has long supported initiatives to increase biofuel investment, submitting testimony on the importance of developing and deploying SAF and long supporting SAF tax credits. Several BIO members are part of the Grand Challenge, too. 

What they’re saying: “This is all about getting the tools to fight the climate crisis into the hands of farmers, ranchers and foresters who are on the front lines,” said U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. 

More Reading: Biotech Solutions for Climate



More Agriculture & Environment News:

Genomatica: Covestro and Genomatica produce important chemical raw material using biotechnology
The two companies have teamed up to be the first to successfully produce significant volumes of a plant-based version of the chemical raw material HMDA (hexamethylenediamine). HMDA, with a worldwide market of 2 million tons per year, is a key ingredient for a widely-used type of nylon (nylon-6,6), as well as an important component for raw materials for coatings and adhesives from Covestro. Up to now, HMDA has been manufactured from fossil feedstocks.

Reuters: Microsoft invests $50 million in alcohol-to-jet fuel biorefinery
Microsoft is investing $50 million in a LanzaJet facility in Georgia that will produce jet fuel from ethanol next year, LanzaJet said. The airline industry is considered one of the hardest to decarbonize. Renewable aviation fuel accounted for less than 0.1% of current global jet fuel demand of about 330 million tonnes in 2019, investment bank Jefferies said last year. 

Survival rates for lung cancer, blood cancer have increased over the last decade

We’ve seen improvements in the survival rates of certain lung and blood cancers—with treatment innovations playing a major role. But we must ensure we support continued investment in the next generation of cures for cancers and other diseases.

“Lung cancer causes the most deaths of any cancer by far—350 per day—more than breast, prostate, and pancreatic cancers combined,” says the American Cancer Society. 

But survival rates have improved over the past decade, with 31% of patients surviving three years after diagnosis, compared to 21% a decade ago, according to the ACS Cancer Statistics 2022.

Meanwhile: “Five-year survival rates for leukemia alone have nearly doubled from 34% in the mid-1970s to 66% in the early-mid 2000s, according to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society,” says BIO member AbbVie. 

How? “A greater understanding of disease and investment in laboratory research helps us design more efficient clinical trials and get new treatments to patients faster,” said AbbVie Executive Medical Director Jim Dean. 

More advancements are on the horizon—“bolstered by innovation in genetics and genomics as well as precision medicine,” says AbbVie. 

But: There’s a lot of unmet need as well as “persistent racial, socioeconomic, and geographic disparities for highly preventable cancers,” like cervical, breast, and prostate cancer, says ACS.

The bottom line: Biotech innovation has saved lives—and we need to ensure policy supports investment in the next generation of treatments, diagnostics, and cures. Drug price controls or retreating on the Accelerated Approval Pathway could keep future advancements from the patients who are desperately waiting for them.  

President Biden’s Wednesday: He’s scheduled to hold his first press conference of the year at 4 PM ET. 

What’s Happening on Capitol Hill: The Senate is expected to move forward on the House-passed voting rights legislation, though “failure” is “expected,” explains CBS News.