Complete Story
06/18/2009BioPreferred Legislation Introduced in Ohio
Contact: Jamie Butts
Ohio Soybean Association
614.476.3100
jbutts@soyohio.org
NEWS RELEASE
June 18, 2009
BioPreferred Legislation Introduced in Ohio
WORTHINGTON, Ohio - The Ohio Soybean Association (OSA) applauded the recent introduction of Senate Bill 131 sponsored by State Senator Karen Gillmor (R-Tiffin) that will establish an Ohio BioPreferred purchasing program. S.B. 131 will help the state "go green" while breathing new life into its flagging economy through research, manufacturing, and agriculture-the number one industry in the state-all without costing the state additional dollars.
"During this time of economic stress, we need creative solutions to help fuel our state's economy," Gillmor said. "The combined purchasing power of the state and our public colleges and universities is enormous. This bill will help capture those dollars which the state is already spending and channel them directly back into Ohio's economy."
The strong agricultural industry in Ohio is the foundation upon which the state's research and manufacturing industries can build. Many Ohio research and manufacturing companies such as Battelle Memorial Institute, Proctor & Gamble, Sherwin Williams, The Scotts Company and others are already leading the way in bioproduct development and marketing. The bill also benefits Ohio's small businesses, many of which supply biobased products.
Additionally, the growth of the bioproducts industry in Ohio will boost the bottom line for soybean farmers. OSA has been a long-time advocate for soy-based bioproduct development and promotion in the state, as many biobased products that are available today are derived from soybeans.
"The Ohio Biopreferred purchasing program will help grow the bioproducts industry here in Ohio, and in-turn help make Ohio soybean farmers more profitable," said Mark Watkins, OSA President and soybean farmer from Hardin County. "Soy-based bioproducts are an important new market for the entire state, and it's exciting to have this great opportunity to increase their usage in Ohio without adding any extra burden on taxpayers."
The bill would require the state and public colleges and universities to give purchasing preference to biobased products if the biobased product is comparable in price, performance, and availability. The bill adopts product standards and approved product lists established by the Federal government as part of the similar Federal BioPreferred purchasing program. It does not apply to the purchase of motor vehicle fuel, heating oil or electricity.
The bill also requires the Director of the Department of Administrative Services to prepare and submit a report annually to the Governor, the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate on the state's bioproduct usage including the amount of money spent by state agencies on bioproducts.
Biobased products are defined as commercial or industrial products, other than food or feed, composed wholly or in significant part of biological products including renewable agricultural materials such as plant, animal, and marine or forestry materials.
Agriculture has long been the bread and butter industry of Ohio, with every county in Ohio boasting sizable acreage in agriculture production. Ohio's soybean industry alone is valued at approximately $2 billion. The BioPreferred Legislation is an effort to, through Ohio's mainstay agriculture industry, turn the state's planning and economic development toward future development as it works through the automotive industry's devastating downturn.
John Lumpe, Executive Director of the Ohio Soybean Association commended Senator Gillmor for sponsoring this legislation and for her efforts to help make Ohio a leader in biobased products utilization.
"Giving state agencies the ability to use these environmentally friendly and renewable products will be a great achievement for our state," he said, "It will certainly serve the interests of Ohio's soybean farmers by working to increase demand for soy biobased products."
Beyond the marketplace benefits, the bill also encourages product research and development at Ohio's colleges and universities and private research institutions, in turn encouraging students to enroll and enter scientific fields using math, science and technology of the future.
In 2007, Governor Strickland signed a compact with other members of the Midwest Governor's Association supporting state implementation of this successful Federal program. Enacting this legislation will bring Ohio in line with the Federal legislation. Gillmor noted that, given the already significant investment that Ohio companies and Ohio agriculture are putting into the development of affordable biobased products, now is an ideal time for the state to make an investment in the clean production of renewable resources.
"We must build on Ohio's legendary ability to envision and develop new products," Gillmor said. "This bill will grow our already outstanding higher education system and further educate our citizens for higher wage jobs at a time when many skilled workers are out of work. In the inventive spirit of Thomas Edison, it is within our reach to make Ohio the ‘Bioproducts Center of the Nation.'"
Headquartered in Worthington, the Ohio Soybean Association is governed by a 24-member volunteer farmer board dedicated to education and promotion, as well as to uniting producer interest through support of legislative activities beneficial to the Ohio soybean industry.
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