SPECIAL COMBINED ISSUE: BioBuzz and BioBuzzGov

USDA Rural Development sent this bulletin at 03/15/2024 10:50 AM EDT

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USDA Rural Development - Together, America Prospers

Thank You for Celebrating National Biobased Products Day

In this special combined issue of BioBuzz and BioBuzzGov, we say thank you for making the second annual National Biobased Products Day such a huge success! We were thrilled to see so many participants and stakeholders celebrating in diverse of ways--from educating school children on how to make "green" choices to hosting facility tours where innovative biobased products are made.

In this photo, a group of business leaders visits Washington to ask for support for The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), as well as to promote the USDA BioPreferred Program and introduce lawmakers and their assistants to National Biobased Products Day. Pictured L to R: Jenny Tompkins of PennFuture, Kurtis Miler-Legislative Assistant to Senator John Fetterman, Catherine Segada - Mercyhurst University Student, Joseph Louis - PennWest Edinboro University Student and Joe Greco - President of BEG Group and manufacturer of USDA Certified Biobased Products.

Introducing the Biobased Academy

The United Soybean Board marked the day by sharing how its partnership with the American Lung Association is offering a comprehensive online training program, known as the Biobased Academy®. The training program is designed to educate professionals on the operational, health, safety, and environmental benefits of biobased fleet, facility, and grounds products.

Here's the team responsible for raising awareness of the Biobased Academy®, which can be found here.

Watch a Replay of Iowa's Celebration

In Iowa, legislators and leaders came together for a livestreamed event. Watch the replay: USDA National Biobased Products Day 2024 (youtube.com)

Success Stories

From Maine to Washington state, rural communities, small towns, and BioPreferred participants came together to celebrate National Bioased Products Day. Here are some success stories from the day:

Finding New Markets with USDA BioPreferred: Small Town Biobased Company has Outsized Impact on the Slopes and Ziplines of America | Rural Development

National Biobased Products Day: GreenTechnologies’ 25-Year Quest to Provide Eco-Friendly Alternatives to Chemical Fertilizers | Rural Development (usda.gov)

Washington State Company Exemplifies Spirit of National Biobased Product Day Through USDA Grant Funding To Increase Organic Fertilizer Production | Rural Development -

Hemp Blocks Add Value to Pennsylvanians and the Planet | Rural Development (usda.gov)

Latest Economic Impact Report Released

One of the biggest announcements of the day involved USDA's release of "An Economic Impact Analysis of the U.S. Biobased Products Industry: 2023 Update," which shows that, based on data from 2021, the biobased products industry grew nationwide despite the impacts of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Planet vs Plastics

Last week we celebrated National Biobased Products Day. Now we’re gearing up for Earth Day on April 22. This year’s theme: Planet vs. Plastics. We vote Planet! And we’re on a mission to phase out single use plastics. Is there a biobased option you can buy to replace a common plastic item? #BuyBiobased #CommitToSwitch #EarthDay2024

The USDA BioPreferred® Program is the Federal Government’s official advocate and market accelerator for biobased products. Its primary goals are to increase the development, purchase, and use of biobased products; support rural communities; and contribute to a growing and thriving bioeconomy. Learn more at www.biopreferred.gov.

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