New focus on justice through equity in diverse clinical trials, STEM education and expanding entrepreneurship to undeserved communities will drive nation’s largest life science advocacy organization The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) today announced BIOEquality Agenda which aims to attack the systemic inequality, injustice and unfair treatment of women and communities of color through the positive force of biotechnology. Recognizing that gains from transformative science are not always shared equally, BIO is challenging the industry, and its partners, to find solutions for inequitable healthcare delivery, disparate economic development and nutritional and environmental disparities in the US and around the globe. BIOEquality Agenda revolves around three pillars of change that will support stronger and healthier communities: Promote Health Equity Enhance clinical trial diversity by partnering with Contract Research Organizations and Minority Serving Institutions Promote access to vaccines and therapeutics for uninsured and underserved populations, especially related to COVID Foster enhanced nutritional, environmental, and mental wellness opportunities in economically disadvantaged communities   Invest in the Current and Next Generation of Scientists Inventory and promote visibility of industry-sponsored minority training programs Establish STEM training best practices for underrepresented populations Create a network of minority scientists and engineers   Facilitate a partnering network, including hiring of industry-trained minority scientists and engineers   Expand Opportunity for Women and Other Underrepresented Populations Enhance use of minority- and women owned small businesses in biotech supply chains, to promote economic development of marginalized communities and especially those, hard hit by COVID-19 Promote diversity of the NIH SBIR Grants Dr. Michelle McMurry-Heath who…

Today, the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) submitted its comments in response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (UDSA) Solicitation of Input from Stakeholders on Agricultural Innovations, part of the Department’s Agriculture Innovation Agenda. The solicitation follows a series of goals announced by the Department in February to reduce the environmental footprint from agriculture in half, while increasing production by 40 percent.  Since then, the COVID-19 outbreak has only increased the importance of the Department’s goals, while also creating renewed urgency to protect public health and improve the wellbeing of people, animals, and the environment by developing innovative, sustainable solutions throughout the agricultural value chain. “The vulnerabilities in our supply chains exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic—which will only be compounded by climate change—emphasize the need to create a more resilient world through science,” said Dana O’Brien, executive vice president at BIO. “We have an obligation to learn from this crisis and apply those learnings to build a better tomorrow. That means taking steps to invest in science, innovation and the workforce needed to create resilient industries and maintain global economic strength.” In its comments, BIO stresses the importance of bolstering the bioeconomy to meet USDA’s goals, through the development of new platform technologies, enhancements in agriculture and food production, and increased production of sustainable fuels, renewable chemicals, and biobased products. BIO centers its recommendations around five key principles: 1. Advance Modern Regulatory Approaches to Keep Pace with Innovation 2. Provide Robust Funding of Public and Private Sector Scientific Research 3. Modernize Infrastructure 4. Incentivize Farmers 5. Build Public Support and Increase Market Access for Innovative Technologies To read BIO’s full comments, click here.