BioPreferred® program was created
by the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (2002 Farm Bill), and expanded
by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill). The purpose
is to increase the purchase and use of biobased products. The United States Department
of Agriculture manages the program.
BioPreferred includes:
- a preferred procurement program for Federal agencies and their contractors,
- and a voluntary labeling program for the broad scale consumer marketing of biobased
products.
Under the procurement program, BioPreferred
designates categories of biobased products that are required for purchase by Federal
agencies and their contractors. As a part of this process, the minimum biobased
content is specified. Going forward, biobased intermediate ingredients and feedstocks
will be included in the designation process.
Under the voluntary labeling program,
biobased products that meet the BioPreferred program requirements carry a distinctive
label for easier identification by the consumer.
BioPreferred® Program Overview