Legislation would regulate purchasing

By Marc Kovac

Supporters say the bill would help demonstrate all that Ohio agriculture is.

COLUMBUS — State agencies would be required to seek out products made from renewable agricultural resources as part of their regular supply purchasing, under legislation introduced at the Statehouse.

Sen. Karen Gillmor, a Republican from Tiffin, and Minority Leader Capri Cafaro, a Democrat from Hubbard Township, are co-sponsors of the bill, which had its first hearing before a Senate committee this week.

“We want to show the average citizen in Ohio that agriculture is not merely farm fields,” Gillmor told reporters during a press conference Friday morning. “It is in the laboratories. It’s science. It’s fascinating.”

The proposed legislation would create an Ohio Bio Preferred purchasing program, similar to another program, called Buy Ohio, which gives preferred treatment to Ohio vendors when the state is buying supplies for various agencies.

The new program would give preferred treatment to companies selling bio-products — those made with Ohio crops and other renewable resources. Existing companies already are selling such products, including plastics, paints and packing supplies.

The requirements would cover state agencies and universities and would apply when bio-based products are available, are as good or better in quality compared to others on the market and are available at a reasonable price.

The goal is to support products made from Ohio crops, reduce the state’s usage of petroleum-based products and bolster university research developing bio-products and the companies that make and sell them.

“The best way that we can stimulate this industry is by utilizing the purchasing power of our state to kick-start and jump-start the consumption of bio-products,” Cafaro said.