Aug. 11, 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Plant Based Products Council Executive Director James Glueck released a statement following the nomination of Glen Smith to serve as USDA’s Under Secretary for Rural Development and the appointment of Neal Robbins to serve as Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development.

“We are excited to see USDA announce Glen Smith and Neal Robbins to lead its Rural Development work, which includes efforts essential to the success of the U.S. ag bioeconomy,” said Glueck. “PBPC appreciates both individuals’ willingness to serve in these important roles. The bioeconomy represents a great growth opportunity for American agriculture, Read More >

Aug. 11, 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Plant Based Products Council today announced Danielle Beck has joined as Vice President of Government Relations, and Kent Roberson has been promoted to a new role as Senior Director of Government Relations. Beck and Roberson’s new positions strengthen the organization’s efforts to advance the agricultural bioeconomy and support the adoption of bioproducts.  

Danielle Beck has more than 15 years of experience delivering comprehensive results in Washington, and comes to PBPC from Invariant, where she leveraged deep agriculture policy expertise to achieve legislative and regulatory wins for PBPC and other clients. Prior to her Read More >

August 6, 2025

Washington, D.C. — The Plant Based Products Council (PBPC) welcomes and applauds the bipartisan reintroduction of the Biomanufacturing and Jobs Act. This legislation represents a significant investment in America’s bioeconomy, aiming to expand markets for U.S. farmers, support domestic manufacturing, and accelerate the adoption of renewable, biobased products. The bill is being led by Sens. Joni Ernst (R-IA), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Pete Ricketts (R-NE). In the House, the measure is led by Reps. Mark Alford (R-MO), Angie Craig (D-MN), Mark Messmer (R-IN), and Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-MI). 

“As global demand grows for homegrown Read More >

July 31, 2025

Washington, D.C. — The Plant Based Products Council (PBPC) welcomes the bipartisan Senate introduction of the Agricultural Biorefinery Innovation and Opportunity (Ag BIO) Act, a major step toward accelerating the growth of the U.S. bioeconomy and strengthening rural America. The legislation is led by Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Jerry Moran (R-KS), long-standing champions of agricultural innovation and biomanufacturing.

“The Ag BIO Act represents a strategic investment that will be necessary if American manufacturing is going to lead the world in the production of plant-based materials,” said James Glueck, Executive Director of PBPC. “This bill provides Read More >

July 1, 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Plant Based Products Council, which represents companies and stakeholders at the forefront of innovation in the ag bioeconomy, released a statement expressing disappointment about the BioPreferred Program being removed from the .

“While we appreciate Congress’s continued support for agricultural producers, we’re deeply concerned about the uncertainty facing USDA’s BioPreferred Program,” said James Glueck, Executive Director of the Plant Based Products Council. “For more than two decades, this bipartisan program has successfully driven American manufacturing job creation while strengthening markets for farm commodities. At a time when rural communities need economic opportunity Read More >

June 3, 2025

Washington, D.C. – The Plant Based Products Council (PBPC) is pleased to announce the addition of Ameya Khanapurkar as its new Project and Policy Coordinator. In this role, Khanapurkar will support a variety of efforts, including membership recruitment and engagement.

“Ameya is a welcome addition to the PBPC staff, and I’m excited to add him to our exceptional team,” said PBPC Executive Director James Glueck. “Our members are the foundation of the work we do at PBPC, and Ameya’s work to ensure we are meeting the needs of the growing ag bioeconomy will be critical to Read More >

May 14, 2025

Washington, D.C. – The Plant Based Products Council (PBPC) is pleased to announce the addition of Sydney Van de Meulebroecke as its new Manager of Bioproducts Policy. In this role, Van de Meulebroecke will support the advancement of PBPC’s federal policy agenda, bringing valuable expertise in sustainability, regulatory affairs, and stakeholder engagement to PBPC’s growing advocacy efforts. She will work closely with PBPC members to address policy challenges and promote the growth of the plant-based products industry.

“Sydney brings a strong track record at the intersection of sustainability, policy, and industry,” said PBPC Executive Director James Read More >

May 9, 2025

Washington, D.C. — This week, the Plant Based Products Council (PBPC) brought together its diverse membership — including American farmers, entrepreneurs, manufacturers, and consumer-facing brands — in Washington, D.C. for its 2025 Member Meeting and Fly-In. The multi-day event served as a platform for advancing bipartisan policies that will strengthen the agriculture-based bioeconomy and expand the role of U.S. biomanufacturing in driving sustainable economic growth.

“The United States is at a pivotal moment to lead the global shift toward biomanufacturing, where agricultural innovation meets industrial resilience,” said PBPC Executive Director James Glueck. “With thoughtful federal policy, Read More >