LIMA — In the wake of the COVID pandemic and increasing global tensions, more attention has been given in recent years to the integrity of our supply chains. When it comes to supply chains that involve the military, that concern now becomes one of national security. U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Niles, was in the area learning about a program that he says will shore up the military supply chain and help Ohio farmers simultaneously.
Thanks to funds secured in the Fiscal Year 2020 appropriations bill, a collaboration has been formed between the U.S. Department of Defense, the Air Force Research Lab, bio-industrial manufacturing firm BioMADE and the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company to develop a domestic source of rubber for military, aircraft and truck tires. According to a release from Goodyear, the Taraxacum kok-saghyz dandelion, also known as the TK dandelion, has been found to be a natural alternative source for rubber, as opposed to making rubber from latex derived from rubber trees, which comprises more than 90 percent of the world’s natural rubber.
This partnership is hopeful that the cultivation of this dandelion, which can produce a harvest in as little as six months, can serve as a viable, homegrown alternative to importing rubber from overseas.
“I mean, 90 percent of our rubber we get is from Asia,” Ryan said. “For me, it’s critically important, especially around our defense industries, to be pushing the next generation of technologies that we can make here in the United States. This is all about buying American. This is all about the American supply chain so we’re not relying on China.”
While the location Ryan visited could not be disclosed out of proprietary concerns from the U.S. Air Force, Ryan expressed optimism that this partnership could be a boon to area farmers.
“I’ve been looking for any opportunity to help farmers,” Ryan said. “We need to make sure they’re plugged into opportunities like this. I think it’s really exciting.”
Ryan went on to say that he would like to make more robust investments in area agriculture extension programs to help educate area farmers and make opportunities like this available for them.
“I think we need to reinvest in them and give farmers a buffet of opportunities and ways to make money and different sectors of the economy to get into, like growing dandelions,” he said. “Once this thing does get ramped up, it’s going to be a lot more than one farm involved and we’re going to need multiple farms to do it. So it could be a real lifeline for a lot of farmers.”
