Stakeholders have the opportunity to comment on potential changes to intellectual property (IP) protection proposed by USDA. On March 11, the agency initiated a public inquiry urging the public to reach out with their comments regarding seeds, fertilizer and retail markets.
This 60-day comment period is a result of the July 9, 2021 Executive Order on “Promoting Competition in the American Economy where President Biden put into action 72 initiatives aimed to combat what he called competition issues in the economy.
To enter the public discussion, submit comments here before May 16, 2022.
USDA Offers Grants to Bolster Domestic Production, Increase Competition
The USDA recently announced that they will be promoting domestic fertilizer production under a $250 million grant program. Funded by the Commodity Credit Corporation, the program’s goal is to “support independent, innovative and sustainable American fertilizer production to supply American farmers.”
More information about the application process will be released in the upcoming months.
The price of fertilizer has more than doubled over the past year as a result of numerous factors, including Putin’s continuously increasing costs and the COVID pandemic, according to the USDA. As the second-or third-highest importer of the three major components of fertilizer, the USDA intends to decrease the United States’ reliance on foreign countries.
“Concentrated market structures and potentially anticompetitive practices leave America’s farmers, businesses, and consumers facing higher costs, fewer choices and less control about where to buy and sell, and reduced innovation—ultimately making it harder for those who grow our food to survive,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on the potential change in production in a recent press release.
“In addition to the jobs, lower costs and more reliable supply, increased investment in the domestic fertilizer industry will help address climate change by reducing the greenhouse gas emissions associated with transportation, while also fostering more sustainable production methods and more precise application,” he continued.
To learn more about the USDA’s plan of action, read their full press release here.
Read More About IP Protection and Applications Globally:
Unless Corrected, The Erosion of Science Will Mean More Empty Plates
