B&C® Biobased and Sustainable Chemicals Blog

The Agile BioFoundry (ABF) will host its fall 2026 Industry Day on Monday, October 26, 2026, at the Hotel Shattuck Plaza in Berkeley, California. Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Alternative Fuels and Feedstocks Office (AFFO), ABF develops biomanufacturing tools, processes, and partnerships that drive industrial production of affordable chemicals and fuels. DOE invites stakeholders to join ABF at their fall 2026 Industry Day “to discover partnering opportunities and provide...

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced on September 21, 2026, that it has received two petitions from Bayer U.S.-Crop Science seeking a determination of nonregulated status: Herbicide resistant MON 96012 cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), developed using genetic engineering to tolerate glyphosate, glufosinate, dicamba, triketone 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD)-inhibiting, and protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO)-inhibiting...

On September 15, 2026, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the release of the American Biofuels Trade Outlook, “a plan that builds upon 2025’s record U.S. ethanol export performance, removes restrictions to American biofuels, and secures new market opportunities for U.S. farmers.” According to USDA, during the past two years, U.S. ethanol exports reached new volume and value records, fueled by growing global ethanol import demand and reduced competition from Brazil, the...

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued guidance on September 8, 2026, on the Section 45Z Clean Fuels Production Tax Credit “to empower America’s crop and livestock farmers, ranchers, and fuel producers across the country and help them access the growing domestic biofuels market in a way that makes the Clean Fuels Production Credit work for them.” Notice 2026-53 provides the 2026 emissions rate table used to calculate the clean fuel production credit and provides additional guidance,...

On August 27, 2026, Representatives Bob Latta (R-OH) and Debbie Dingell (D-MI) introduced the Biomanufacturing Excellence, Domestic Resilience, Output, and Competitive Know-how (BEDROCK) Act. According to Latta’s August 27, 2026, press release, the legislation “would help turn products invented in America into products made in America -- supporting American manufacturing jobs, strengthening American supply chains, and reducing American dependence on Communist China.” The press release...

On September 9, 2026, Representatives Brian Babin (R-TX), Chair of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, and Rich McCormick (R-GA), Chair of the Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee, sent letters to U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Chris Wright, National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Jay Bhattacharya, and National Science Foundation (NSF) Acting Director Brian Stone requesting information on how those agencies are “advancing U.S. leadership in biotechnology...

On September 22, 2026, the Environmental Law Institute (ELI) and its GreenTech initiative will hold a webinar on “Biofuels: The Latest Developments and Policy Considerations.” According to ELI, using biofuels can lower greenhouse gas emissions and reduce reliance on fossil fuels in various hard-to-abate sectors. ELI notes that there are potential challenges with biofuel production, however, particularly as it relates to land use, water use, and the food supply. During the webinar, speakers...

On August 28, 2026, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) advised the public of its determination that Darling 54 American Chestnut (Castanea dentata), which was developed using genetic engineering for tolerance to the fungal pathogen, Cryphonectria parasitica, is no longer considered regulated. 91 Fed Reg. 55510. According to the notice, APHIS’ determination is based on its evaluation of information and data submitted...

On July 6, 2026, the American Chemical Society (ACS) announced the winners of the 2026 Green Chemistry Challenge Awards. According to ACS, the 2026 awards “recognize outstanding work in recyclable polyurethanes [PU], cleaner pharmaceutical manufacturing, sustainable crop protection, biodegradable polymers, [per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)]-free semiconductor cooling and biocide-free marine coatings.” ACS notes that these innovations “reduce or eliminate hazardous substances, cut...

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced on August 18, 2026, that it has received a petition from Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. seeking a determination of nonregulated status for COR-23134-4 soybean (Glycine max), referred to as COR23134, which has been developed using genetic engineering to express Cry1B.34.1, Cry1B.61.1, and IPD083Cb proteins to protect against certain susceptible lepidopteran pests, and the GM-HRA protein...