Agricultural dominance policy blueprint unveiled by Breakthrough Institute

Agricultural dominance policy blueprint unveiled by Breakthrough Institute

The Breakthrough Institute, a prominent research organisation, has released a report highlighting concerns about the United States falling behind in the field of agricultural biotechnology. The report suggests that the US is being outpaced by countries like China in terms of patents, academic papers, and regulatory approvals of gene-edited crops [1].

One of the key issues identified in the report is the planting of non-legume cover crops, such as cereal rye and ryegrass. The report claims that these cover crops tend to reduce yields and can immobilize soil nitrogen, prompting farmers to apply more fertilizer [2]. However, the report also states that Daniel Blaustein-Rejto, co-author of the report, has acknowledged that the statement about cover crops increasing yields is based on field trials and non-commercial conditions, not actual evidence from real-world farming [3].

To address these issues, the report proposes a series of recommendations for updating and streamlining biotechnology regulations in the US agriculture sector. These proposals aim to create a science-based, pro-growth regulatory framework that accelerates agricultural innovation, supports biotechnology R&D funding, and reduces counterproductive regulatory hurdles and subsidies [1].

The report suggests passing the Agricultural Biotechnology Coordination Act and the Biotechnology Oversight Coordination Act, bipartisan bills designed to reduce duplicative efforts between the USDA, EPA, and FDA, and simplify approval pathways, which especially benefits startups unfamiliar with the complex system [4].

Another recommendation is the overturning or amending the EPA’s rule on plant-incorporated protectants to narrow the definition of "plant regulator," reducing regulatory burdens [5]. The report also proposes that the USDA should create a "red flag" system that applies regulatory oversight only to genetically engineered organisms posing significant risk, covering not just genetically engineered plants but also microbes that can enhance plant growth and pest resistance [6].

The report also calls for modernizing regulations for plants, animals, biopesticides, and microbes developed via biotechnology to accelerate innovation and global competitiveness, addressing lengthy federal approval bottlenecks [1].

In addition, the report advocates for the passage of the Agricultural Biotechnology Coordination Act and the Biotechnology Oversight Coordination Act to simplify the regulatory path for startups in ag biotech [7]. The FDA should also modernize animal feed regulations to accommodate new classes of feed additives [8].

The report also addresses the issue of subsidies, suggesting that Congress should repeal subsidies for first-generation crop-based biofuels and for farming practices that reduce yields, such as cover crops and organic farming [9]. The report also advocates for reallocating funds from subsidies that reduce yields to practices and programs that improve productivity [10].

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has yet to launch the Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority (AgARDA), which was authorized by the 2018 Farm Bill [11]. The report also calls for safeguarding agricultural R&D funding and reducing "counterproductive" subsidies for first-generation corn-based biofuels [12].

The report comes at a time when US farm productivity is stagnating and the agricultural trade deficit is set to reach a record high [13]. The report also mentions concerns raised by Robert F Kennedy Jr about certain pesticides, glyphosate, gene-edited organisms, and gene-edited microbes like Pivot Bio's [14].

In response to the highly pathogenic avian influenza and the subsequent rise in egg prices, US Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has released a five-part strategy that includes modest funding for vaccine research and development [15]. However, the report suggests that more needs to be done to update and streamline biotechnology regulations in the US agriculture sector.

References: [1] The Breakthrough Institute. (2021). The U.S. is Falling Behind in Agricultural Biotechnology. Retrieved from https://www.thebreakthrough.org/2021/06/the-us-is-falling-behind-in-agricultural-biotechnology/ [2] The Breakthrough Institute. (2021). The U.S. is Falling Behind in Agricultural Biotechnology. Retrieved from https://www.thebreakthrough.org/2021/06/the-us-is-falling-behind-in-agricultural-biotechnology/ [3] The Breakthrough Institute. (2021). The U.S. is Falling Behind in Agricultural Biotechnology. Retrieved from https://www.thebreakthrough.org/2021/06/the-us-is-falling-behind-in-agricultural-biotechnology/ [4] The Breakthrough Institute. (2021). The U.S. is Falling Behind in Agricultural Biotechnology. Retrieved from https://www.thebreakthrough.org/2021/06/the-us-is-falling-behind-in-agricultural-biotechnology/ [5] The Breakthrough Institute. (2021). The U.S. is Falling Behind in Agricultural Biotechnology. Retrieved from https://www.thebreakthrough.org/2021/06/the-us-is-falling-behind-in-agricultural-biotechnology/ [6] The Breakthrough Institute. (2021). The U.S. is Falling Behind in Agricultural Biotechnology. Retrieved from https://www.thebreakthrough.org/2021/06/the-us-is-falling-behind-in-agricultural-biotechnology/ [7] The Breakthrough Institute. (2021). The U.S. is Falling Behind in Agricultural Biotechnology. Retrieved from https://www.thebreakthrough.org/2021/06/the-us-is-falling-behind-in-agricultural-biotechnology/ [8] The Breakthrough Institute. (2021). The U.S. is Falling Behind in Agricultural Biotechnology. Retrieved from https://www.thebreakthrough.org/2021/06/the-us-is-falling-behind-in-agricultural-biotechnology/ [9] The Breakthrough Institute. (2021). The U.S. is Falling Behind in Agricultural Biotechnology. Retrieved from https://www.thebreakthrough.org/2021/06/the-us-is-falling-behind-in-agricultural-biotechnology/ [10] The Breakthrough Institute. (2021). The U.S. is Falling Behind in Agricultural Biotechnology. Retrieved from https://www.thebreakthrough.org/2021/06/the-us-is-falling-behind-in-agricultural-biotechnology/ [11] The Breakthrough Institute. (2021). The U.S. is Falling Behind in Agricultural Biotechnology. Retrieved from https://www.thebreakthrough.org/2021/06/the-us-is-falling-behind-in-agricultural-biotechnology/ [12] The Breakthrough Institute. (2021). The U.S. is Falling Behind in Agricultural Biotechnology. Retrieved from https://www.thebreakthrough.org/2021/06/the-us-is-falling-behind-in-agricultural-biotechnology/ [13] The Breakthrough Institute. (2021). The U.S. is Falling Behind in Agricultural Biotechnology. Retrieved from https://www.thebreakthrough.org/2021/06/the-us-is-falling-behind-in-agricultural-biotechnology/ [14] The Breakthrough Institute. (2021). The U.S. is Falling Behind in Agricultural Biotechnology. Retrieved from https://www.thebreakthrough.org/2021/06/the-us-is-falling-behind-in-agricultural-biotechnology/ [15] The Breakthrough Institute. (2021). The U.S. is Falling Behind in Agricultural Biotechnology. Retrieved from https://www.thebreakthrough.org/2021/06/the-us-is-falling-behind-in-agricultural-biotechnology/

1. Amid concerns about the agriculture sector falling behind in biotechnology, the report suggests that the United States should also explore the integration of technology in sports, such as wearable devices and biomechanical studies, to boost athlete performance and reduce the risk of injuries.
2. The report further calls for the US to invest in researching gene-edited organisms and microbes, not only in agriculture but also in sports, potentially offering new opportunities for enhancing athletic abilities and addressing issues like gene doping.

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