B&C® Biobased and Sustainable Chemicals Blog

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) announced on February 26, 2026, that it is undertaking a factfinding investigation to examine Chinese state support and pricing practices in the biotechnology sector and assess how these practices may be affecting the market share and competitiveness of the U.S. industry. USITC states that it is instituting this investigation, “Impact on U.S. Industry of China’s State Support and Pricing Practices in the Biotechnology Sector” (Inv. No....

On January 29, 2026, Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) introduced the Biosecurity Modernization and Innovation Act of 2026 (S. 3741) to establish a federal biosecurity framework. According to Cotton’s February 4, 2026, press release, the bill “will require gene synthesis providers screen their orders and customers for bad actors or dangerous pathogens, and will ensure that the U.S. government adopts a flexible and agile approach to biosecurity that will ensure American leadership in biosecurity.”...

On March 10, 2026, EuropaBio, the European Association for Bioindustries, will hold a webinar on “Navigating Biotech SME Funding: What’s available, How it works, What’s next for Europe.” According to EuropaBio, Europe’s biotech sector “continues to face significant financing challenges, especially during growth and scale‑up.” As the European Union (EU) moves forward with the landmark Biotech Act, the webinar will explore the funding tools available today, how companies can access...

In February 2026, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) published several petitions seeking a determination of nonregulated status for products developed using genetic engineering. Each petition states that the information provided indicates that the product is unlikely to pose a plant pest risk and therefore should not be regulated. In each case, APHIS prepared a draft plant pest risk assessment (PPRA) to assess the plant pest risk of...

The Department of the Treasury (Treasury Department) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued a proposed rule on February 4, 2026, regarding the clean fuel production credit enacted by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and amended by the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). 91 Fed. Reg. 5160. The proposed regulations would provide rules for determining clean fuel production credits, including credit eligibility rules, emissions rates, and certification and registration requirements. In...

On February 4, 2026, the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB) announced the release of a fact sheet on biotechnology solutions for critical minerals. NSCEB notes that the United States is overly reliant on China for critical minerals. According to NSCEB, biotechnology “creates new paths to reduce our reliance on China by unlocking new sources of critical minerals right here in the United States.” NSCEB states that the recently-announced Project Vault and other...

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) posted a working paper on January 30, 2026, entitled A comparison of the innovation and regulatory environments for biotechnology and biosolutions across the European Union and the United States. According to the authors, the working paper “strengthens the evidence base for biotechnology policymaking by examining two critical dimensions: innovation-enabling conditions and regulatory practices.” Focusing on the European Union...

BB-REG-NET, a United Kingdom (UK) regulatory science network for biobased and biodegradable materials, published a report on January 29, 2026, entitled “Seven steps to fairness -- An LCA Framework for Impact Category Selection and Development in the Comparison of Fossil-Based, Bio-Based and Biodegradable Materials.” BB-REG-NET notes that existing lifecycle assessment (LCA) standards “were often developed with mature, fossil-based systems in mind, resulting in frameworks that may...

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced on January 29, 2026, that its Agile BioFoundry (ABF) is hosting its 2026 Industry Day on February 17, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (PST) in Emeryville, California. Virtual participation will be available via Zoom. DOE invites stakeholders to join ABF to discover partnering opportunities and provide perspective on how DOE national laboratories can best support the biomanufacturing industry. The ABF Industry Day will include: Lightning talks on...

The National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB) has published a January 2026 discussion paper entitled “Creating Clear Regulatory Pathways for Biotechnology.” According to the paper, biotechnology regulations in the United States are complex, resulting in a slow process, while regulations in China and other countries allow developers to move ahead more quickly. The paper notes that the regulatory system in the United States is “built on laws that predate biotechnology,...

On January 14, 2026, Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and Chris Coons (D-DE) introduced the Renewable Chemicals Act (S. 3632). According to Ricketts’s January 14, 2026, press release, the bipartisan legislation “would provide a targeted, short-term tax credit for qualifying renewable chemicals or an investment tax credit for renewable chemical production facilities.” The press release notes that renewable chemicals are produced from biomass such as corn and soybeans and states that this...

Do you know of a company that is innovating in ways that make chemistry safer, cleaner, and more sustainable? The American Chemical Society (ACS) is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Green Chemistry Challenge Awards. Winning a Green Chemistry Challenge Award is not just an honor; it is a catalyst for visibility, credibility, and environmental impact. Since 1996, 155 organizations and individuals have been recognized for innovations that reduce hazardous substances, conserve resources,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...