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Washington, D.C. (July 5, 2019) – The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) released the following statement on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volumes for 2020. “EPA’s proposal to maintain the volumes of conventional biofuels as well as slightly increase advanced and cellulosic biofuel volumes signals potential growth for the industry but does nothing to address the lost gallons from refinery exemptions. This increase will only exist on paper if the agency does not end its practice of granting unjustified RFS waivers,” said Stephanie Batchelor, vice president of BIO’s industrial & environmental section. “To move our nation closer to securing a renewable fuel future and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, EPA must cease such exemptions while efficiently approving pending pathways and registrations for innovative biofuels and production facilities. BIO looks forward to commenting on the proposal and will continue to engage with EPA to advance policies that enable U.S. biofuels producers to access the market and develop sustainable solutions to our energy challenges.” ###

Washington, D.C. (July 2, 2019) – The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) announced today that Stephanie Batchelor has been named BIO’s vice president for its industrial & environmental (I&E) section.

Washington, DC – (July 1, 2019) – The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) today announced winners of the Start-up Stadium competition held last month at the BIO International Convention in Philadelphia. During five sessions over three days, live presentations of 50 finalists were evaluated by expert judges with entrepreneurial, investment, start-up, economic development, capital formation, and academic backgrounds from both the public and private sectors. One winner was chosen for each session. From 13 countries and 24 US states, competitors were judged on the strength of their commercially viable cutting-edge technologies and therapeutic solutions. The winners are: EndObetes (New York) Session 1 MNI, Inc. (Pennsylvania) Session 2 ClostraBio, Inc. (Illinois) Session 3 ChromaTan Corp. (Pennsylvania) Session 4 Kaydence Pharma (Norway) Session 5 “The benefits of participating in the Start-up Stadium competition go beyond winning a contest,” said Nareg Sagherian, BIO’s Director of Investor Relations & Programming. “According to our surveys, even the companies that don’t win have been approached by investors who were either judges or audience participants listening to their presentation. These are opportunities that participating companies may not have had otherwise, and we are pleased with the enormous success of this interactive experience.” Winning companies receive a one-year membership in BIO, a one-hour advisory discussion with two venture capital firms (Hemi Ventures and Wells Fargo Strategic Capital) and will be fast-tracked into the final selection phase for up to a $75,000 convertible note as part of the Delaware Innovation Space’s First Fund program. A full list of 2019 participants and judges can be found here.

NEW YORK – June 25, 2019 – Executive Women in Bio (EWIB), a committee comprised of senior leaders in the life sciences and biopharma operating within the national non-profit organization, Women In Bio (WIB), is pleased to announce a new partnership with the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO). Through this partnership, senior women executives who complete EWIB’s Boardroom Ready program can elect to be listed on BIO Boardlist, a searchable directory of eligible executives in which members can recommend peers and companies can find board candidates that best fit their business needs. With less than 15 percent of life science company board positions filled by women, increasing equity in consideration for these leadership positions will take a change in thinking across the industry. Motivated by both the moral obligation to give all eligible candidates equal opportunity to advance up the corporate ladder, as well as the growing body of research indicating that diverse boards tend to generate returns above the industry average, EWIB and BIO have developed programs and taken steps to counteract women’s underrepresentation on executive boards. “Executive Women In Bio established the Boardroom Ready program to help experienced female leadership overcome the hurdles to obtaining a corporate board seat,” said Carolyn Brougham, executive liaison at WIB. ”Adding the program alumnae to the BIO Boardlist furthers the mission of EWIB and Boardroom Ready by expanding the resources, network, and opportunities available for these outstanding life science executives.” Each year, EWIB’s Boardroom Ready program selects 20 top biotech and pharmaceutical executive women to participate in an intensive board competency-building curriculum to refine each candidate’s understanding of the responsibilities related to serving on both public and private boards. A key benefit of this program is leveraging the extensive network of WIB, experienced board mentors, and supporters…

The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) today thanked Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Representatives Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) and Ron Estes (R-Kan.) for introducing the Financing Our Energy Future Act.

Washington, D.C. (June 11, 2019) – The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) today expressed support for a U.S. Senate letter, authored by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), requesting U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler end the practice of granting small refinery hardship waivers under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for large or unqualified refiners and immediately reallocate the gallons of biofuels lost as a result of the waivers. Klobuchar and Duckworth were joined on the letter by Senators Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.). The following statement may be attributed to Stephanie Batchelor, acting executive vice president of BIO’s industrial & environmental section: “The senators in this letter are right to call on EPA to end its practice of granting unjustified RFS waivers. The current policy undercuts American farmers and biofuels producers, generates market uncertainty, and negates the benefits of the agency’s past clean air actions. If the United States is to significantly reduce its transportation sector’s harmful greenhouse gas emissions and bolster U.S. energy security, then we must embrace a renewable fuel future and promote the development of new, innovative biofuels. Reversing the unprecedented rate of waivers, in addition to allowing the year-round use of 15 percent biofuels in gasoline, will put our country on a more sustainable path and uphold the Trump administration’s commitment to our nation’s farmers and biofuels producers. We thank the senators who signed this letter, and BIO will continue to engage with Administrator Wheeler on this important issue.” A PDF of the letter is available here. Text of the letter is below. Dear Administrator Wheeler: We are…

Washington, D.C. (June 11, 2019) – The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) today expressed support for President Donald J. Trump’s executive order, titled “Modernizing the Regulatory Framework for Agricultural Biotechnology Products.” The executive order (EO 13874) directs the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to review their respective agricultural biotechnology regulatory systems in an effort to streamline processes and remove overly burdensome regulations. The following statement may be attributed to BIO President and CEO Jim Greenwood: “America is on the threshold of entering a new era of sustainable agriculture and food production, and it’s important we get this right for farmers, consumers, U.S. companies, and the world as a whole. With prudent regulations, we can foster American innovation and bring to market biology-driven solutions that are improving nutrition, reducing food waste, increasing crop yield, combating debilitating crop diseases, and advancing environmentally friendly farming practices. “BIO applauds the Trump administration for taking this important step forward to ensure government policy does not hinder 21st-century biotechnology from addressing the many global challenges—from a looming food crisis to climate change—facing society today. We will continue to engage with the agencies throughout this process to ensure our regulatory infrastructure is science-based and transparent, and just as we are committed to working with the government, we also pledge to be a driver of forthright conversations and dialogues with consumers in an effort to identify shared values and energize public understanding.” ###