|
|
|
We have more details on Biden’s biotech executive order (and how BIO’s long called for something like it) and new technology to turn food waste into fuel. Don’t forget to join today’s webinar on the importance of SBIR/STTR reauthorization—register here! (624 words, 3 minutes, 7 seconds) |
|
|
|
|
Biden’s executive order promotes biotech, biomanufacturing |
|
|
President Biden yesterday signed an executive order directing a “whole-of-government approach to advance biotechnology and biomanufacturing.” The order takes several positive steps: coordinating federal R&D funding, streamlining regulation to facilitate development, establishing a data initiative to support research, expanding market opportunities for bioenergy and biobased products and services, and supporting the training of biotech specialists. Biomanufactured in America: The order promotes domestic biomanufacturing capacity—a priority BIO President and CEO Dr. Michelle McMurry-Heath emphasized to the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology in November.
Remove barriers to innovation: The order calls for USDA, FDA, and EPA to identify areas of "ambiguity, gaps or uncertainties" in the federal regulatory system for biotechnology. These agencies are required to submit a plan for implementing reforms, including identifying regulations and guidance documents that need to be "updated, streamlined or clarified."
Cancer Moonshot, ARPA-H: Biden announced the order yesterday during remarks promoting his Cancer Moonshot initiative. He also announced Dr. Renee Wegrzyn, an executive at BIO member Ginkgo Bioworks, will lead the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). The new agency is intended to enable medical advances by following the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) model, which supports “high-risk, high-reward research,” according to Nature.
The big picture: “Today’s action is going to ensure that America leads the world in biotechnology and biomanufacturing, creating jobs, reducing prices, strengthening supply chains so we don’t have to rely on anywhere else in the world,” Biden said.
Dr. Michelle’s Diagnosis: “We commend the administration for launching this initiative, particularly the actions to streamline regulatory regulations for biotechnology products, expand market opportunities for biobased products, work for international alignment of regulatory standards, and invest in training and education pathways to ensure an adequate, diverse biotech workforce,” BIO's Dr. Michelle McMurry-Heath said yesterday.
BIO’s long called on the administration to advance biotech—since Day 1 of the Biden administration (and earlier). A few recent examples: |
|
|
|
TODAY
Join BIO to Discuss the Importance of SBIR/STTR Reauthorization
| What:
SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Webinar
Where:
Zoom
When:
Today! Tuesday, September 13, 2022, 1:00PM - 2:00PM ET
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs are highly competitive award-based programs that encourage domestic small businesses to engage in Federal Research/Research and Development with the potential for commercialization.
Federal funding for the SBIR/STTR Program will expire on September 30, 2022, and we need your support to ensure timely reauthorization!
Hear from successful SBIR/STTR grantees, program officers, and technical experts on these vital programs. After this webinar, you will be able to effectively advocate for Federal SBIR/STTR program reauthorization.
| |
|
|
|
|
Cheaper process can convert food waste to biodiesel |
|
|
A new technique improves the method for converting food waste into biodiesel, promising reductions of carbon emissions through cleaner production, cleaner fuel, and waste reduction, according to research published last month.
By the numbers: One-third of all food in the U.S. goes uneaten, according to the EPA. “If 100% of the world’s annual supply of wasted food was converted to usable energy, it could power the United States for two years,” says the new research.
Conversion is costly: Hydrothermal processes to convert algae into fuel have shown promise, but harvesting algae is expensive. Food waste cannot be processed this way without a costly catalyst, according to the research, which was part of a multi-year project funded by the Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center.
Bone deep: The latest innovation is a less expensive catalyst, hydroxyapatite, a mineral naturally occurring in bone that can be used to convert food waste into biodiesel.
The bottom line: “The new technology has the potential to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 2.6% while producing renewable diesel with a minimum fuel selling price of $1.06/GGE,” the research says. (GGE stands for "gasoline gallon equivalent.")
Another biotech approach to food waste:gene editing can fight food waste, reducing hunger and poverty, for example, by extending the shelf life—before it "goes bad"—of produce. More News: Progressive Policy Institute: The world needs better incentives to combat superbugs
“The U.S. needs to combat these superbugs on three fronts: curtailing the overuse of antimicrobials in medicine, limiting the use of antimicrobials on animals and agriculture, and investing in the development of new antimicrobials to stay ahead of nature.” |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
