Launching a National Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Initiative
On September 12, 2022, President Biden issued the Executive Order on Advancing Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Innovation for a Sustainable, Safe, and Secure American Bioeconomy, calling for increased international cooperation to advance the use of biotechnology and biomanufacturing in addressing climate change, supporting supply chain resiliency, and increasing food security.
The Executive Order calls for U.S. engagement with developing countries, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations through joint research projects and expert exchanges, regulatory cooperation and sharing of best practices, and open sharing of scientific data.
USDA already supports a wide range of activities that connect biotechnology and biomanufacturing to climate goals, including the Bio-Preferred Program. Biotechnology and biomanufacturing can also support initiatives such as the Global Fertilizer Challenge and Global Methane Pledge through research and development in areas such as using microbes to create fertilizer alternatives and using biotechnology to reduce methane emissions in rice and animal production.
The Executive Order also supports the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate’s call for new technologies, products, and innovations to reduce agriculture’s impact on the environment.
Additional Information
The Bioeconomy: A Primer (Congressional Research Service)
White House Initiative to Advance the Bioeconomy, EO 14081: In Brief (Congressional Research Service)