FACT SHEET: USDA INVESTS IN AMERICAN BIOECONOMY TO BOOST GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS

“Invent it here, grow it here, make it here”

On September 12, the Biden-Harris Administration announced key steps to advance 

biotechnology and biomanufacturing in the United States through the Executive Order 

on Advancing Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Innovation for a Sustainable, Safe, 

and Secure American Bioeconomy. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has a 

critical role in this effort by providing tools, resources, and scientific research to ensure 

American farmers and producers remain globally competitive. USDA will accomplish 

this through new and existing programs.

Expand domestic 

biomanufacturing

In the summer of 2022, USDA made 

$500 million available through a new grant 

program to support independent, innovative, 

and sustainable American fertilizer production 

to supply American farmers, which can make 

use of advances in biotechnology 

and biomanufacturing. 

Leverage biotechnology for 

strengthened supply chains

USDA joined the government-wide Sustainable 

Aviation Fuels Grand Challenge to meet 100% 

of U.S. aviation fuel demand with sustainable 

fuels by 2050. USDA is partnering with the 

Department of Energy and the Department

of Transportation to leverage the estimated 

1 billion tons of sustainable biomass and waste 

resources in the United States to provide 

domestic supply chains for fuels, chemicals, 

and materials.

Foster innovation 

across the United States

In May 2022, USDA announced $32 million for 

wood innovation and community wood grants, 

leveraging an additional $93 million in partner 

funds to develop new wood products and 

enable effective use of U.S. forest resources.

Bring bio-products 

to market 

USDA’s BioPreferred Program advances the 

development and expansion of markets for 

biobased products with a catalog of over 

16,000 registered products. The new $10 

million Bioproduct Pilot Program will support 

scale-up activities and studies on the benefits 

of biobased products.

Train the next generation

of biotechnologists

In March 2022, USDA announced $68 million 

through the Agriculture and Food Research 

Initiative to train the next generation of research 

and education professionals in food and 

agricultural disciplines including biotechnology.

Drive regulatory innovation to increase 

access to products of biotechnology

USDA is building new regulatory processes 

to promote safe innovation in agriculture and 

alternative foods, allowing USDA to review 

more diverse products.

Advance measurements and 

standards for the bioeconomy

USDA is advancing opportunities for cellulosic 

biomaterial by developing carbon accounting 

standards from forest stewardship, use of 

harvested wood products, extending the 

life of wood in use, re-use, recycling, and 

returning carbon to soil in a cradle-to-cradle 

life cycle analysis system. 

Reduce risk through investing 

in biosecurity innovations

In August 2022, USDA partnered with Indiana 

University of Pennsylvania (IUP) to create 

a specialized and innovative biosafety and 

biorisk management certificate program to help 

fill the growing need for biosafety professionals 

in high-containment facilities. Together, USDA 

Agricultural Research Service and IUP created 

a didactic and hands-on curriculum specifically 

to ensure that students can become biosafety 

professionals in agricultural, veterinary, 

pharmaceutical, or biotech facilities.

Facilitate data sharing to 

advance the bioeconomy

USDA is working with the National Institutes 

of Health to ensure that data on persistent 

poverty can be integrated with cancer 

surveillance as part of the government-wide 

Cancer Moonshot effort. 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.