All Knowledge & Insights By Date

On February 1, 2016, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) announced the dates and locations for the second and third public engagement sessions that will discuss the July 2, 2015, memorandum entitled "Modernizing the Regulatory System for Biotechnology Products." The second public meeting will be held on March 9, 2016, at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Region 6 office at 1445 Ross Avenue in Dallas, Texas. The third public meeting will be held...

The December 2015 issue of Nature Biotechnology included comments by Richard E. Engler, Ph.D. on keeping biotech rules current with scientific progress in the article “A face-lift for biotech rules begins.” To stay up to date with technology, Richard Engler, a senior chemist at the environmental law firm Bergeson & Campbell in Washington, DC, suggested that technology stewards be embedded in each of the relevant federal agencies. Their role would be to monitor...

? Anellotech, "Anellotech and Suntory Enter Next Phase of Strategic Partnership to Develop 100 Percent Bio-Based Plastics for Sustainable Beverage Bottles" ? LanzaTech, "LanzaTech and Global Bioenergies Announce New Collaboration Agreement" ? INVISTA, "INVISTA Receives Patent For Bio-Derived Raw Materials Technology Developed Through Collaboration With Arzeda" ? Thanhnien News, "Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh Ordered to Switch Completely to Biofuel" ? Phys.org,...

On January 19, 2016, Elevance Renewable Sciences Inc. (Elevance), a Biobased and Renewable Products Advocacy Group (BRAG®) member, announced the successful scale-up of a second-generation biorefinery technology of the Company's olefin metathesis technology, utilizing ethylene and natural oil feedstocks. Elevance collaborated with Versalis, XiMo AG, and Soneas to reach this milestone in the development of second-generation metathesis technology. "This significant accomplishment...

On January 14, 2016, a report titled "Biobased Chemicals: The Iowa Opportunity" was released by Iowa's Cultivation Corridor and the Iowa Biotechnology Association at the Iowa Statehouse. This report is based on research by Iowa State University professors and outlines opportunities for Iowa to capitalize on bioprocessing developments in the United States. While Iowa has the advantage of a strong biofuel industry, there is still a need for the Iowa legislature to address the needs...

Indiana University Bloomington Newsroom, “IU Scientists Create 'Nano-Reactor' for the Production of Hydrogen Biofuel” Fashion Times, “Charmant USA Launches New Bio-Based Sustainable Eyewear Brand” RICE University News & Media, “Study:  Bacteria Attack Lignin with Enzymatic Tag Team” Plastics Today, “3D-Printed Bioplastic Façade Elements Lend Cachet To Europe Building” Blue Sphere, “Blue Sphere Secures $3M to Acquire...

On January 12, 2016, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a Federal Register notice announcing the availability of EPA’s response to a petition it received from the Biobased and Renewable Products Advocacy Group (BRAG®) under Section 21 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). BRAG requested EPA to promulgate a rule pursuant to TSCA Section 8 that would establish a process to amend the list of natural sources of oil and fat in the “Soap and Detergent...

? USDA, "USDA Shares 2015 Results: Building A Stronger Rural America Through Partnership, Progress And Promise" ? Plastics Today, "Made Of Bioplastic: The Best Of 2015" ? Environmental Leader, "Can Bio-Based Chemicals Improve Products' Performance and Sustainability?" ? CORDIS, "Cost-Effective New Process Gets Chitin Out Of Its Shell" ? Journal of the American Chemical Society, "Key Roles Of Lewis Acid–Base Pairs On Znxzryoz In...

On December 21, 2015, LUX Research released a list of Top 10 Innovative Companies from 2015, chosen from 1,189 companies. Biobased and Renewable Products Advocacy Group (BRAG®) Member Elevance Renewable Sciences received an honorable mention for its plan to expand production of specialty chemicals from crude palm oil outside of Europe and the Americas by building or retrofitting plants in Malaysia. The report rated the assessment of Elevance's prospects as "Positive." The other...

Click here for a PDF version of the memorandum. Even if Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) legislation is not enacted, 2016 will be a momentous year. As the curtain closes on eight years of the Obama Administration, there are a number of items expected to be among the "legacy" issues in the chemical and pesticide regulation space. Enhanced protections for farmworkers, more protective assessment policies, and a re-energized toxic chemical assessment program are among the short list of notable...

? Forbes, "Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg & More than 20 other Billionaires Launch Coalition to Invest in Clean Energy" ? BioAmber, "BioAmber Commits to Action on Climate Change" ? Green Biologics, "Green Biologics Starts Construction in Little Falls, MN" ? University of Lincoln, "New Research Targets Efficient Renewable Chemical Production" ? Greener Packaging, "From Potato Starch to Grape Skins: Veuve Clicquot's Eco-Friendly Packaging"

? Biofuels Digest, "Innovation to Tackle Climate Change and Feed a Growing Population: Commercializing Synthetic Biology" ? Energy.gov, "BETO-Funded Projects Win at the 2015 R&D 100 Awards" ? Oregon Best, "A New Formaldehyde-Free Wood Adhesive" ? Net Composites, "Laurel Biocomposite Earns USDA Certified Biobased Label for Three Products" ? Business Wire, "World's First Biofuel Facility to Operate Entirely on Renewable Heat and Power to Go...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has called for nominations for the 2016 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards (PGCCA), and companies engaging in green chemistry innovations will want to act quickly as the deadline for nominations is December 31, 2015. Winning, or even just being nominated for a PGCCA, confers concrete benefits, including increased brand awareness, public relations opportunity, and validation of your product or process by green chemistry stakeholders. To be...

The November 25, 2015, Bloomberg BNA Daily Environment Report quoted Bergeson & Campbell, P.C., in the article “Diverse Parties Say Federal Biotech Rules Confusing.” Bergeson & Campbell PC, a law firm that represents companies working with emerging technologies, supported the efforts to update the framework but described structural problems that may thwart the White House's intentions. The regulatory infrastructure is ill-suited to address synthetic biology—a new form of...

On November 10, 2015, Senator Stabenow (D-MI), along with Senators Coons (D-DE) and Franken (D-MN), introduced S. 2271, the Renewable Chemicals Act of 2015 to the Senate. If passed, the bill would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to create short-term tax credits for the production of renewable chemicals and for investments in renewable chemical production facilities. Producing eligible renewable chemicals from biomass feedstock would result in a tax credit of 15 cents per pound of...

On November 6, 2015, Inside EPA included comments made by Richard E. Engler, Ph. D. at a public meeting held by EPA, USDA, and FDA to  update the federal coordinated framework for how the three agencies regulate biotechnology. […]Industry officials, meanwhile, emphasized biotechnology's growing importance in food production and cautioned that over-regulation will stifle innovation. Officials with Dupont and the law firm Bergeson & Campbell, P.C., which represents...

On Monday, October 26, 2015, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) presented “Bioproducts in the Federal Bioeconomy Portfolio Webinar,” a webinar on how the federal government is promoting sustainability through three different avenues: bioproducts research; commercialization; and market development.  The presenters on these topics were DOE’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) Technology Manager Nichole Fitzgerald; U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) BioPreferred Deputy...

The November 2, 2015, BNA Daily Environment Report article, “New Authority Not Expected for Biotech Framework Update,” included comments made by Richard E. Engler, Ph.D. at the “Modernizing the Regulatory System for Biotechnology Products” public meeting held by FDA, USDA, and EPA.     […DuPont global director of corporate regulatory affairs Terry] Medley and Richard Engler, a senior chemist working for Bergeson & Campbell P.C., said the...

On October 30, 2015, a public meeting was held to discuss Clarifying Current Roles and Responsibilities Described in the Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of Biotechnology and Developing a Long-Term Strategy for the Regulation of the Products of Biotechnology (Framework). FDA's role in responding to the July 2015 memorandum issued by OSTP, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) entitled "Modernizing...

Lynn L. Bergeson was quoted in the October 15, 2015, BNA Daily Environment Report article “Uncertain Regulatory Path Costs Biotech Companies” about the recent Wilson Center report “The DNA of the U.S. Regulatory System: Are We Getting it Right for Synthetic Biology?”: Getting regulatory approval for products made with synthetic biology techniques is a daunting process, Lynn Bergeson, managing partner of Bergeson & Campbell P.C., and co-author of the report, said during...