ASA Position: ASA supports implementation of the Farm Bill programs that encourage increased use of bio-based products by the federal government.

Background: ASA has worked with the soybean industry and the United Soybean Board for the past decade to development bio-based products that are useful and competitive in the marketplace. There are now a wide range of bio-based products made from soybeans, including lubricants, cleaners, carpet backing, insulation, ink, coatings and biodiesel that can be used as a fuel additive as well as a fuel. Soybean farmers have invested millions of dollars to research and promote bio-based products through our national and state checkoffs.

ASA led efforts in the 2002 Farm Bill to establish policies to encourage increased use of bio-based products by the U.S. government and improved acceptance in the commercial marketplace. ASA recently provided comments to the Department of Agriculture proposed Guidelines for Designating Biobased Products for Federal Procurement. ASA concurred with the three main objectives of the rule: 1) to improve demand for bio-based products; 2) to spur the development of value-added agricultural processing and manufacturing in rural communities; and, 3) to enhance the Nation’s energy security by substituting domestically produced bio-based products for fossil energy-based products derived from imported oil and natural gas.

Successful implementation of the preferred procurement program for bio-based products will increase the use of soy-based products by the Federal Government and encourage demand for these products in state governments and in the private sector.