Good Day BIO: USDA's new climate initiative – plus, Rare Cancer Day insights

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a new initiative to finance deployment of climate-smart agriculture and forestry practices—we have details. 

USDA’s Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Partnership Initiative will “create new market opportunities for commodities produced using climate-smart practices and position U.S. farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners as leaders in addressing climate change,” said US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. 

How it works: “Guided by science, USDA will support a set of pilot projects that provide incentives to implement climate smart conservation practices on working lands and to quantify and monitor the carbon and greenhouse gas benefits associated with those practices. The pilots could rely on the Commodity Credit Corporation’s (CCC) specific power to aid in expansion or development of new and additional markets.”

USDA also announced a $3 billion investment in agriculture, animal health, and nutrition—learn more.

Earlier this year, the Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance (FACA)—BIO’s a steering committee member—put forward recommendations for how USDA could utilize CCC to scale voluntary adoption of climate-smart practices that promote resiliency and climate change mitigation across public and private, natural and working lands. 

What they're saying: FACA “is pleased to see USDA embracing an incentive-based approach that would increase demand for climate-smart farm, ranch and forestry products, while building trust that the climate benefits are real and verifiable”—read their full statement. 

The next steps:USDA is asking for public input on the initiative, with comments due by November 1, 2021. BIO will solicit feedback from members to craft a response. 

In his speech announcing the initiative, Secretary Vilsack also highlighted the Growing Climate Solutions Act, which would “aid in the development of markets for sustainably produced products.” The House Agriculture Committee will be considering the bill soon—join BIOAction to ask your Members of Congress to support it.

More Agriculture and Environment News:

Agri-Pulse (Opinion): Why I’ve fought for biofuels through Congress’ infrastructure debate
“By investing in biofuels infrastructure, the Build Back Better Act will not only directly support rural America’s economic success but also tackle the threat of climate change head-on,” writes Rep. Cindy Axne (D-IA).

It’s Rare Cancer Day, devoted to highlighting rare cancers and the challenges people living with them face. We also think it’s a good day to discuss what we need to do to advance research for these devastating diseases.

Approximately 1 in 5 people living with cancer in the U.S. are diagnosed with rare cancer—and all pediatric cancers are rare, says the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) Rare Cancer Coalition.

The five-year survival rate is lower for patients with a rare cancer than for those diagnosed with a more common cancer—which is why it’s critical that we accelerate R&D and approval of promising new treatments.

This is why we need accelerated pathways, which came about 30 years ago “because patients were protesting, trying to get access to life-saving therapies where there were none,” said BIO President and CEO Dr. Michelle McMurry-Heath during a recent Friends of Cancer Research virtual meeting on optimizing breakthrough therapy designation.

“It’s so critically important that we do everything we can to get these new solutions and potential cures out the door,” she continued. “We have to offset the needs of patients with the potential risks and benefits of a new intervention. So, it’s incredibly important that reviewers have these pathways at their disposal to try to address those huge and imminent patient needs.” (Watch her session starting around 32:00:00.) 

The Orphan Drug Act is essential, too. In fact, 42% of the 491 orphan drugs over the past 10 years have been for rare cancers, said a recent NORD report. 

But Congress is considering a change to the Orphan Drug Tax Credit,which could disincentivize needed research, especially by small biotechs focused exclusively on rare diseases and rare cancers. Today and everyday, BIO will continue aggressively fighting back on behalf of patients with rare diseases and cancers. 

Get involved: NORD will hold a free webinar today at 2 PM ET on breaking down barriers to rare cancer diagnosis, treatment, and research. On October 18-19, the NORD Rare Summit will virtually convene the rare disease community—get the details.

More Health Care News: 

Delaware Business Times: Report: Life sciences growing rapidly in Delaware
“A new 32-page report from the Delaware Bioscience Association and Delaware Prosperity Partnership details the growth of life sciences in the First State.”

Dr. Jane Delgado was a psychologist who promoted minority health at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In 1985, she made essential contributions to the department’s first-ever public report outlining racial and ethnic health disparities. She went on to serve as the first woman president of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health (NAHH), advocating for the health of Hispanic and Latinx communities.

Meet more Hispanic and Latinx scientists and innovators you should know.

President Biden’s Thursday: Infrastructure negotiations continue today—POLITICO has more on where things stand regarding Biden’s agenda. 

What’s Happening on Capitol Hill: Congress needs to pass a continuing resolution by midnight to keep the government open. Meanwhile, as of this writing, “House Democrats appear poised to miss a second vote on a bipartisan infrastructure bill this week, highlighting the stubborn stalemate over the larger social benefits package at the core of President Biden's agenda,” says The Hill. We’re keeping an eye on it, as well as a Senate HELP Committee hearing on reopening schools—watch what BIO’s Dr. Michelle told MSNBC about the timeline for vaccines for kids.