Rep. Panetta Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Bolster Plant Biostimulant Research and Approval Process

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-20) introduced the Plant Biostimulant Act. This legislation authored by Congressman Panetta and introduced with Rep. Jim Baird (R-IN-4) would create a uniform process for approving commercial plant biostimulant use and require more federal research on the technology's benefits for soil health. The use of plant biostimulant technologies has also shown promise in sustainability management practices such as carbon sequestration and water quality improvement. Currently, there isn't a consistent and predictable path to market for plant biostimulants and this legislation would help remedy that problem with federal guidance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Agriculture.

"Without a formal standardized definition of biostimulants, many in our sustainable agriculture industry are unable to access such innovative technology through the markets," said Rep. Jimmy Panetta. "My bipartisan bill would help solve that problem by ensuring that the federal government provides defining language for plant biostimulants that regulators can use in their review and approval of new products. By making plant biostimulants more accessible, our agriculture producers, especially on the Central Coast, can continue to produce more food while protecting the environment."

"As firms in all corners of the agriculture industry continue to bring innovative new solutions to market that give farmers and ranchers the tools needed to improve efficiency, productivity, and the sustainability of American agriculture, we need to make sure that we are also working towards innovative regulatory processes that provide these products a pathway to market without sacrificing safety or efficacy," said Rep. Baird. "Biostimulants have the significant potential benefits for producers and their sustainability footprint, and defining these products is an important first step in getting these tools into farmers' toolboxes."

"The Humic Products Trade Association (HPTA) would like to thank Reps. Panetta and Baird for introducing this legislation," said Russell D. Taylor, President of the Humic Products Trade Association. "This bill provides the language and definitions needed to align FIFRA with the current state of agricultural knowledge and resolve the definition gaps in the existing law. These modifications are desperately needed to help the states establish a clear path to market for humic substances and the biostimulant industry. HPTA supports this bill which will foster conservation and innovation in agriculture."

"The Plant Biostimulant Act is an important and welcomed contribution to establish greater clarity in the development, regulation and commercialization of plant biostimulants. Marrone Bio Innovations offers our thanks and gratitude to Representatives Panetta and Baird for their leadership in recognizing the important role biostimulants can, and do, make for agriculture, the environment and climate smart innovation. We look forward to working with Representatives Panetta and Baird to advance this legislation, as well as other initiatives to provide greater clarity, transparency and confidence in the efficacy and safety of plant biostimulants," said Keith Pitts, Chief Sustainability Officer at Marrone Bio Innovations.

"We are pleased to see the Plant Biostimulant Act introduced and thank Representatives Jimmy Panetta and Jim Baird for leading this effort," said Keith Jones, Executive Director of BPIA. "BPIA is proud to promote plant biostimulants as innovative technologies that improve agricultural sustainability. This much needed legislation will codify a federal definition for plant biostimulants, which will improve and clarify the path to market for these innovative products. We look forward to working with Congress as this bill moves forward."

"Novozymes is excited about the introduction of the Plant Biostimulant bill. This bill is critical to establish a uniform national definition for "plant biostimulant," which will provide a clearer path to market for developers," said David Hogsett, President, Novozymes Inc. "Biostimulants are important tools for farmers to increase yields by helping the plant's uptake and utilization of critical nutrients for growth. We thank Reps. Panetta and Baird for their leadership on this issue."

"Cutting-edge, innovative technologies such as plant biostimulant products will be critical to sustainably increasing food production to mitigate food price inflation and enhance agriculture's resiliency to the stresses of climate change. BIO applauds Representative Panetta and Representative Baird for introducing the Plant Biostimulant Act of 2022. This legislation will help give full federal recognition of plant biostimulants, and provide a clear pathway to the marketplace for the technology, which is an invaluable new category of agricultural inputs that will improve soil health, water quality, and the overall growth of plants," said Sarah Gallo, Vice President for Agriculture and Environment, Biotechnology Innovation Organization.

"The American Seed Trade Association is pleased to see the introduction of the Plant Biostimulant Act of 2022," said ASTA President & CEO Andy LaVigne. "We thank Representatives Jimmy Panetta and Jim Baird for their work on this legislation. Plant biostimulants are a critical tool as farmers look to increase productivity while conserving natural resources. This legislation would create needed certainty by establishing a federal definition for plant biostimulants – an important step in ensuring these innovative tools are broadly available to producers. ASTA looks forward to working with Congress as they consider this key legislation."

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