The farmers, ranchers, agricultural retailers, cooperatives, researchers, scientists, seed producers, and technology developers represented by the organizations signed below appreciate the opportunity to provide input for the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Strategy. We recognize that this effort at collecting information from agriculture and forestry stakeholders originated from the “Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad.” The Executive Order stated: “America’s farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners have an important role to play in combating the climate crisis and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, by sequestering carbon in soils, grasses, trees, and other vegetation and sourcing sustainable bioproducts and fuels.” We agree and further state that American agriculture is already at the forefront of global sustainability. We appreciate USDA seeking stakeholder input on this complex issue and allowing us the opportunity to provide suggestions for ways that agriculture can deliver benefits beyond our current high standard.

The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) is pleased to respond to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Request for Comments: Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad as USDA develops a Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Approach. BIO applauds the Administration and the Department for prioritizing the urgent need to address the climate crisis. As BIO outlined in its “100 Days of Innovation” Blueprint, our nation is at a critical juncture. The start of the new administration and new Congress presents a unique opportunity to come together to galvanize our nation’s scientific and entrepreneurial capacity and to mobilize new waves of homegrown innovation and American ingenuity to tackle the climate crisis, end the pandemic, and get more Americans back to work. With science, we can return our Nation and the world to health and prosperity by taking bold and drastic action to address the climate crisis and reverse years of inequity and build a more just, sustainable, and resilient future.

On behalf of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), the global industry organization representing the biotechnology industry, I want to express support for House Bill 1091, which recently passed the Washington Legislature. BIO member companies are at the forefront of developing solutions to address climate change. This includes technological advancements in clean energy and biofuels. We therefore support House Bill 1091 and commend you and the Legislature for establishing a clean fuel standard in Washington.

We write to you in strong support of President Biden’s nomination of Jewel Bronaugh, PhD to serve as Deputy Secretary of Agriculture and ask that you quickly approve her nomination. As leaders of the nation’s food and agricultural organizations, we work closely with the senior leadership of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in support of efficient and effective administration of food and agricultural programs and have consistently advocated for the appointment of highly qualified candidates to serve in these critical positions. We are grateful that President Biden has moved quickly to fill these senior positions with people of Dr. Bronaugh’s caliber and ask that the Senate do likewise.