BIO responds to white paper on Renewable Fuel Standard.
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Press Release Summary:
In letter addressing House Energy & Commerce Committee’s white paper, "Agricultural Sector Impacts," Brent Erickson wrote, "Congress established the RFS to encourage the use of existing biofuels and the development of advanced biofuels in order to reduce our reliance on the rising cost and price volatility of foreign oil. Therefore, it is crucial we maintain the RFS in order to spur on alternative energy production to stabilize and lower both energy and food costs."
Original Press Release:
BIO Responds to House Energy & Commerce White Paper on Renewable Fuel Standard
WASHINGTON--The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) today submitted comments to the House Energy & Commerce Committee’s Bipartisan Review of the Renewable Fuel Standard with Examination of Agricultural Impacts.
In a letter addressing the committee’s second white paper, “Agricultural Sector Impacts,” Brent Erickson, executive vice president of BIO’s Industrial & Environmental Section, wrote, “Congress established the RFS to encourage the use of existing biofuels and the development of advanced biofuels in order to reduce our reliance on the rising cost and price volatility of foreign oil. Therefore, it is crucial we maintain the RFS in order to spur on alternative energy production to stabilize and lower both energy and food costs.”
Erickson emphasized in the letter, “The biggest impact to agricultural production, feed costs for livestock, and consumer food costs is the volatile price of oil. Through the mandate of the RFS and the increased use of biotechnology, we are beginning to see the rapid development of biofuels and the biobased economy, which can help mitigate the volatility energy prices cause to commodities, transportation, energy costs, and processing.
“The RFS is spurring the development of biotechnology in agriculture, which can continue to increase productivity for corn and other grains without increasing fertilizer and chemical loads, which is a key to sustainably meeting demand. Grain farmers will always seek markets for grain that add the most value, and biotechnology can add value to the sugar and proteins from grains and create new markets.”
About BIO
BIO represents more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the BIO International Convention, the world’s largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world. BIO produces BIOtechNOW, an online portal and monthly newsletter chronicling “innovations transforming our world.” Subscribe to BIOtechNOW.
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World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology
June 16 – 19, 2013
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
BIO IPCC Conference
November 6-8, 2013
Washington, DC
Pacific Rim Summit on Industrial Biotechnology & Bioenergy
December 8-11, 2013
San Diego, CA
Contacts
Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO)
Paul Winters, 202-962-9237
Web: www.bio.org
Blog: www.biotech-now.org
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