President Obama has directed agencies to buy more biobased products.

As part of the initiative, the Agriculture Department must increase the number of categories and products eligible for its BioPreferred program by 50% over the next year. Eligible categories include such items as paints, soaps and detergents, which are made from farm products.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said the presidential memorandum will “dramatically increase the purchase of biobased products over the next two years.”

The department has already designated some 9,000 products as biobased. Companies that voluntarily certify their products are eligible for procurement preferences.

The president said small businesses account for most manufacturers and vendors of biobased products sold to the government. He ordered the agriculture secretary to work with procurement technical assistance centers and SBA’s small business development centers to spread the word about the biobased purchasing program.

In a 2009 executive order, the president said agencies should ensure that 95% of applicable new contract actions advance sustainable acquisition, including biobased acquisition, as long as the products and services meet agency performance requirements.

According to the Feb. 21 memorandum:

•Agencies must add biobased products to their preferred purchasing programs and train their acquisition staff on the use of biobased products.

•The Office of Management and Budget will highlight biobased purchasing as part of it annual environmental scorecard for each agency.