Farm and Dairy – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, has teamed up with Sen. Debbie Stabenow, chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, to sponsor an initiative that would boost the biobased products industry to expand markets and create jobs.

The “Grow it Here, Make it Here” bill is also co-sponsored by Sens. Tom Carper (Delaware), Robert Casey (Pennsylvania), Chris Coons (Delaware), Kent Conrad (North Dakota), Amy Klobuchar (Minnesota), and Jon Tester (Montana).

The initiative would increase access to capital for biobased manufacturers, improve marketing of biobased products, and further the commercialization of new agricultural innovations to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil and create jobs.

“We all know that Ohio farmers put food on tables, grow feed for livestock, and fill the tanks of vehicles across the nation. But increasingly, Ohio farmers grow products that are turned into plastics, lubricants and chemicals,” Brown said. “Ohio already has what it takes to lead the nation in this emerging field: a skilled workforce, strong agricultural sector, and culture of manufacturing and innovation.”

With nearly 130 Ohio companies already producing biobased products, the bill, introduced March 5, would support Ohio’s emerging biobased-manufacturing industry and encourage the development and manufacturing of new biobased products.

While the bill is a stand-alone measure right now, Brown said he hopes the bill will take the form of an amendment to the farm bill currently on the drawing board.

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