The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on December 30, 2025, several coordinated actions intended to emphasize American agricultural research and innovation “by ensuring ideas stay in America or among our allies, not with hostile nations and that we are putting American farmers and ranchers first in every USDA program, period.” The actions include advancing the Trump Administration’s efforts to end subsidies for foreign-controlled energy sources and strengthen domestic supply...
Regulatory, legal, policy, and business developments in renewable chemicals, biofuels, and other biobased products
January 7, 2026
OECD Publishes Policy Brief on Financing Instruments and Policy Levers to Harness Biomanufacturing for Climate, Biodiversity, and Growth
On December 2, 2025, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) published a policy brief entitled “Financing instruments and policy levers to harness biomanufacturing for climate, biodiversity and growth.” According to OECD, biomanufacturing can enhance supply chain resilience, advance climate action, augment biodiversity conservation efforts, and contribute to economic growth. Although many Group of 20 (G20) countries support bioeconomy innovation, targeted financial...
December 24, 2025
NSCEB Assesses Future of U.S.-China Biotechnology Competition
On December 19, 2025, the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB) announced the publication of a paper entitled “The Future of U.S.-China Biotechnology Competition.” The paper notes that although the United States has historically led in biotechnology, over the past 20 years, China has systematically built a vertically integrated biotechnology ecosystem that is now in prime position to challenge U.S. leadership. According to the paper, China’s new competitive posture...
December 23, 2025
EP and Council of the EU Reach Provisional Agreement on New Genomic Techniques for Plants
On December 4, 2025, the Council of the European Union (EU) reached a provisional agreement with the European Parliament (EP) on rules establishing a legal framework for new genomic techniques (NGT). According to the Council’s press release, the provisional agreement “guarantees a simplified process for NGT plants equivalent to conventional plants and addresses concerns regarding intellectual property and access to seeds.” There would be two ways for NGT plants to be placed on the market:...
On December 15, 2025, the European Commission (EC) announced a legislative package that includes a proposal for a regulation to establish measures to strengthen the European Union’s (EU) biotechnology and biomanufacturing sectors (Biotech Act). The questions and answers (Q&A) on the Biotech Act note that the proposal is focused on health biotech, “although it also includes provisions on food and feed.” According to the Q&A, the Biotech Act would amend specific parts of EU health...
December 17, 2025
APHIS Biotechnology Regulatory Services Reschedules Stakeholder Meeting for February 26, 2026
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced on December 16, 2025, that its Biotechnology Regulatory Services (BRS) has rescheduled its annual stakeholder meeting for February 26, 2026. The meeting will be held in-person at the National Agricultural Library, 10301 Baltimore Avenue Beltsville, Maryland, with an option for virtual attendance. According to APHIS, attendees will receive updates about: Highlights from fiscal year 2025; Looking...
The European Commission (EC) announced on November 26, 2025, that it adopted a new Strategic Framework for a Competitive and Sustainable EU Bioeconomy, “charting a way forward to build a clean, competitive and resilient European economy.” According to the EC, by using renewable biological resources and providing alternatives to critical raw materials, the European Union (EU) “will move forward towards a more circular and decarbonised economy and can decrease dependence on fossil...
December 3, 2025
OECD Policy Brief Explores Biotechnology Investment and Regulatory Policy Landscapes in the EU and United States
On November 23, 2025, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) published a policy brief entitled “Boosting biotechnology innovation through agile regulation and finance instruments.” The policy brief explores the investment and regulatory policy landscapes in the European Union (EU) and the United States, “highlighting shared challenges and lessons that can help accelerate sustainable innovation and strengthen participation in the global bioeconomy.” The policy...
December 2, 2025
NSCEB Publishes Paper on Accelerating American Innovation
On November 25, 2025, the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB) announced the publication of a discussion paper entitled “The Future of Science: A Playbook for Accelerating American Innovation.” According to NSCEB, the paper is “the first in a series of fresh analyses” that NSCEB will publish following the publication of its final report and action plan for Congress in April 2025. The paper represents observations from NSCEB, drawn from consultations with a range...
On November 21, 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it is making $7 million in payments available to advanced biofuel producers nationwide through its Advanced Biofuel Payment Program, a provision of the One Big Beautiful Bill. USDA states that the funding is aimed at increasing the production of American-grown biofuels. According to USDA, the Program supports expanding the production of advanced biofuels by paying advanced biofuel producers for finished advanced...