The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Biological and Environmental Research, announce joint support for research in plant feedstock genomics for bioenergy. NIFA’s support is funded through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), which aims to address challenges in food and agricultural …
Biodefense Experts to Senate Ag Committee-U.S. Ill Prepared
Biodefense experts told the Senate Agriculture Committee a message the panel has heard before. The U.S. is ill-prepared for an intentional or natural disease outbreak that could devastate the nation’s food supply. It’s been over a decade since the Senate Ag Committee held a hearing on agriculture security, but concern over the issue has only grown. Former U.S. Senator and …
RFS Volumes Again Fail to Capture Biodiesel’s Potential
The American Soybean Association (ASA) calls the final biodiesel and advanced biofuels volumes released by the Environmental Protection Agency another example of a missed opportunity to capture the full potential and value of biodiesel. In the rule, EPA calls for biomass-based diesel volumes within the Renewable Fuel Standard of 2.1 billion gallons for 2019, the same level established for 2018, …
Valagro Attending Biostimulants World Congress in Miami
The 3rd Biostimulants World Congress is taking place this week in Miami, Florida. It’s an international scientific conference and trade show being held in the U.S. for the first time, and features leading agriculture companies and experts in the emerging field of biostimulants. As a global biostimulant and fertilizer company with recent expansion in the U.S., Valagro is one of the companies …
Growth Energy Applauds House Support for Advanced Biofuels
Growth Energy applauds a letter from 18 members of the House to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) dealing with cellulosic and advanced biofuels. Donald Payne, Jr., Ruben Gallego , and 16 of their colleagues sent a letter to the EPA asking the agency to increase their blending targets for cellulosic biofuels and biodiesel for the final 2018 Renewable Volume Obligations. …
Biodiesel Board Responds to RFS RIN Concerns
A letter from the National Biodiesel Board to the Trump Administration seeks to clarify issues refineries are wanted addressed. Texas Senator Ted Cruz is holding the nomination of Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey to the Department of Agriculture, asking for a meeting to discuss renewable identification number credits, or RINs. Cruz says refiners call the RINs expensive, “costing thousands of …
AFBF Encouraged by USDA Biotech Proposal Withdraw
The USDA Animal Plant Health and Inspection Service Monday announced the withdrawal of biotech regulations proposed at the end of the Obama administration to get more stakeholder input. AFBF congressional relations director Andrew Walmsley says the move brings an opportunity to improve the rule. Walmsley explains the concerns of the agriculture industry of the now-withdrawn proposal. He expects USDA will …
USDA to Re-engage Stakeholders on Revisions to Biotechnology Regulations
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced it is withdrawing a proposed rule to revise the Agency’s biotechnology regulations and will re-engage with stakeholders to determine the most effective, science-based approach for regulating the products of modern biotechnology while protecting plant health. “It’s critical that our regulatory requirements foster public confidence and empower …