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Ending the week with bipartisan Senators calling for IP protections on the global stage, and a look at the world’s first facility (from BIO member LanzaJet) to produce SAF from ethanol. (438 words, 2 minutes, 11 seconds) |
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Senators urge Biden to reject COVID IP waiver at WTO meeting |
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A bipartisan group of 14 Senators wrote President Biden yesterday urging him to reject the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) waiver of intellectual property rights for COVID diagnostics and therapeutics.
The context: After agreeing to a waiver of IP protections for COVID vaccines in 2022, the Biden administration is considering whether to support expanding the waiver to include COVID diagnostics and therapeutics.
Why it matters: IP protections empowered U.S. companies to donate vaccine doses and enter 400+ licensing partnerships. This led to a global surplus of COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics, the Senators noted.
“A 2022 WTO agreement to waive certain IP protections for COVID-19 vaccines has had minimal impact: To date, no countries have used that waiver,” says the letter. Signatories include Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on IP Chair Chris Coons (D-DE) and Ranking Member Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-ID).
The impact of expansion: “The proposed IP waiver would have the perverse effect of diminishing development of new treatments for dangerous diseases,” as innovators and investors could not afford to spend time or money on R&D, the letter explains.
What’s next: The proposal will likely be discussed at the 13th WTO Ministerial, taking place February 26-29 in Dubai. The Biden administration has not stated its position, which is expected to influence voting on a waiver extension. |
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LanzaJet opens world’s first plant to produce SAFs from ethanol |
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Soperton, Georgia, facility is the world's first alcohol-to-jet sustainable aviation fuel production facility. (Image Source: LanzaJet) |
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The world’s first plant to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from ethanol lifts hopes of expanding carbon-neutral air travel.
The Freedom Pines Plant in Soperton, GA, will produce 10 million gallons of SAF and renewable diesel from low-carbon plant-based ethanol each year, says BIO member LanzaJet. The fuel can be used by existing commercial airliners and could cut carbon emissions from flights by 70%.
Why it matters: Produced at scale, SAFs can slash air travel’s carbon emissions. However, SAFs currently provide less than 0.1% of jet fuel used worldwide. LanzaJet’s new facility moves toward President Biden’s SAF Grand Challenge goal of 3 billion gallons available annually by 2030.
SAFs are carbon neutral—only releasing carbon captured by organic materials during their lifetime—while fossil fuels release carbon captured over millions of years. LanzaJet is also working to make biofuels from waste, including factory emissions, to reduce carbon further.
What they’re saying: “Yesterday’s LanzaJet grand opening marks a major stride in our efforts to power the nation’s aviation sector with fuel grown right here at home by hard-working Americans while creating economic opportunity for American farmers,” says Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, who attended Wednesday’s opening ceremony in Soperton. |
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President Biden’s Friday: No official events scheduled.
What’s Happening on Capitol Hill: A quiet Friday. |
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