To fully support the algae industry and invest in its growth, ABO is dedicated to advocating for policies that advance the development and reach of the algae industry. ABO’s current priorities reflect a need to promote the commercialization of advanced technologies, as well as a new generation of algae-based products and services entering the market. To learn more about ABO’s current efforts and plans for the future, explore the links below.
- ABO proposes policy initiatives for transitioning to a sustainable bioeconomy with algae biofuels and biomaterials
- ABO proposes the Algae Center of Excellence to accelerate commercialization of algae products and services
- ABO coalition puts algae in the 2018 Farm Bill
- ABO wins new tax credit for carbon capture projects
- 2020 priorities for algae: Infrastructure and market development
ABO and Advancing Algae Agriculture and the Rural Economy
The 2018 Farm Bill includes several new provisions that will dramatically expand the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) support for algae farming. ABO is working to ensure these new provisions are implemented as quickly as possible, including:
- New funding opportunities under an Algae Agriculture Research Program
- Changes that will qualify algae technologies for support from the Biomass Crop Assistance Program, Biobased Markets Program (BioPreferred), and the Biorefinery Assistance (9003 Loan Guarantee) Program
- A new algae crop insurance program
ABO and Streamlining Regulatory Approvals for Algae-Based Products and Services
ABO works with its members and allies in several markets to streamline the regulatory review of new products made from algae, or services that can be provided with advanced algae technologies. These can include regulations for:
- Food and feed – ABO is working to streamline FDA approvals of algae-based products that can provide healthy, sustainable and high-performing nutrition for people and animals.
- Fuel and energy – ABO supports swift approvals of Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) pathways at the Environmental Protection Agency
ABO and Maximizing Energy, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Water Investments
ABO is working to ensure robust investments in algae technologies across several industrial sectors, including advocating for:
- Advanced R&D funding at the US Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, USDA and other agencies
- Infrastructure investments in algae projects and facilities
- Tax reforms that streamline algae technology investments, such as:
- the implementation of 45Q reforms that will qualify non-geologic forms of carbon capture and utilization
- the extension of the 2nd Generation Biofuel Tax Credit
- the inclusion of algae-based products in renewable chemical tax reforms.
- Biotechnology – ABO supports regulations that can ensure algae technologies are deployed in an efficient and responsible manner
