BioPreferred^SM (FB4P)

What is BioPreferred^SM (FB4P)?

BioPreferred is a program created through the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act (FSRIA) that requires all federal agencies to give preference to biobased products, unless those products

• are not reasonably available
• fail to meet performance standards
• are available only at an unreasonable price

What are biobased products?

'Biobased product,' as defined by FSRIA, means a product determined by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to be a commercial or industrial product (other than food or feed) that is composed in whole or in significant part of biological products or renewable domestic agricultural materials (including plant, animal, and marine materials) or forestry materials.

What are the benefits of BioPreferred?

It creates a preferred federal market for biobased products.  The program will also educate federal users about product characteristics and the benefits of biobased products.  Additionally, the FB4P will also enable manufacturers to produce biobased products more economically in commercial markets and spur development of new products.

What can CIRAS do for my company?

The CIRAS bioindustry team can

• assist biobased product manufacturers with submitting products, product information, and company information to the program
• help manufacturers test their products for biobased content
• facilitate BEES analysis of biobased products for environmental and economic impacts

What is my next step?

For more detailed information, please visit the program’s web site at http://www.biopreferred.gov/.

Contact the following staff member to see what CIRAS can do for you: