Advanced Happy 4th of July to our US readers!
Before I become embroiled in analyzing how the latest Supreme Court ruling (in favour of West Virginia) limiting the EPA’s ability to regulate carbon emissions will affect future policies for developing lower-carbon emitting solutions in the chemical industry, let me post this good news from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) inviting applications for a new pilot program created to support the development of biobased products that have lower carbon footprints and increase the use of renewable agricultural materials.
This $10 million investment is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s aim to rebuild infrastructure and create good-paying jobs and economic opportunity in rural communities under Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The statute directs USDA to partner with “not less than one institution” to study the benefits of using materials derived from a very broad definition of “covered agricultural commodities.” Under this program, the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) can award up to $10 million divided among the highest rated applications that include eligible universities and private-sector partners. Anticipated activities include technoeconomic and life-cycle analyses relative to incumbent products; environmental and waste management implications; and product development and scale-up.
This project will be implemented by a team of USDA experts from NIFA’s Institute of Bioenergy, Climate and Environment, USDA Rural Development’s BioPreferred Program and the U.S. Forest Service Wood Innovations Team and Forest Products Lab. The amount available for the Bioproduct Pilot Program in FY2022 is up to $5,000,000 and in FY2023 is up to $5,000,000. All awards will be awarded in FY2023.
By the way, the program will not accept applications with biofuel as the primary focus. There is also no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
Visit the NIFA program page to learn more about the Bioproduct Pilot Program.
Date: Thursday, July 14, 2022
Time: 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. EDT (2:00 – 3:30 p.m. CDT)
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