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Industrial & Environmental

Biotechnology’s Impact on Food Ingredients

Natural biological processes have been employed for food production for more than 8,000 years. Bread, cheese, yogurt, beer and wine, vinegar, and many other foods are produced through microbial fermentation or enzymatic activity.

Integrating TSCA into Commercialization Plans for Renewable Chemicals

Renewable chemicals are emerging at a fast pace, paving the way for new, innovative, and sustainable bio-based products. Technologies continue to proliferate that will further enhance the commercial potential of enzymes, new microbes, biomass, and other bio-engineered materials. In a webinar, BIO and the experts from the law firm of Bergeson and Campbell PC explore TSCA and its application to renewable chemicals.

Brent Erickson Discusses Advanced Biofuels and the BIO International Convention’s Leadership Summit

Brent Erickson, executive vice president for BIO's Industrial & Environmental Section, talks about the key advanced biofuel technologies that will be featured and the policies that support their emergence.

The Third Wave in Biotechnology

This document is a primer on industrial biotechnology.

Renewable Chemicals Present Major Opportunity to Commercialize Industrial Biotechnology

Industrial biotechnology covers the application of biotechnology-based tools to traditional industrial processes (“bioprocessing”) and the manufacturing of bio-based products (such as fuels, chemicals and plastics) from renewable feedstocks.

About BIO's Industrial & Environmental Section

Industrial & Environmental — Develops biotechnology industry policy on environmental and industrial biotechnology issues, promotes the use of industrial enzymes, conversion of biomass to energy and chemicals, and innovative clean up technologies.

Diverse Technologies Aim to Make the Leap from Lab to Market

The challenge of conversion of biomass – particularly lignocellulosic biomass and agricultural waste – into chemicals, materials and fuels is being approached in multiple directions and a slew of technologies are now being developed, tested and deployed in semicommercial or pilot stage.

Bio-based Chemicals Industry Looks to Biomass & Capital to Maintain Momentum

The timing for building a biobased economy as an option to the current petroleum-based one, to provide fuels, chemicals, materials and energy sustainably for the long term future cannot be better.

Timeline: 8,000 Years of Mankind

Harnessing microbes to change the world, one process at a time.

BioMalaysia 2011/Pacific Rim Summit Raises Curtain on the Bioeconomy

BioMalaysia 2011 and 2011 Pacific Rim Summit on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy were held jointly in Kuala Lumpur Nov. 21-23.

The Current Status of Cellulosic Biofuel Commercialization
Regulating Industry Uses of Synthetic Biology

A new paper in Science from BIO concludes that at this early stage of development, synthetic biology does not pose significant novel threats that are fundamentally different from those faced by the biotechnology industry. The regulatory framework that has been shaping recombinant DNA technology for the past 40 years is generally applicable and relevant.

2012 World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing

The World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing is the world's largest industrial biotechnology event for business leaders, investors and policy makers in biofuels, biobased products, and renewable chemicals.

Industrial Biotechnology in China

Vigorous government support has played a key role in encouraging China’s development of a bio-based economy, especially in regard to biofuels. 

Focus on Jobs from Biofuels and Biobased Products

On July 26, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced four new project areas for the Biomass Crop Assistance Program.

Letters, Testimony & Comments

Agriculture Energy Coalition Letter to House and Senate Agriculture Committees
April 6 2012
  Dear Senators Stabenow and Roberts and Representatives Lucas and Peterson: The U.S. is experiencing strong growth in the...
EPA Should Deny Petition to Waive Renewable Fuel Standard Obligations
February 16 2012
The Honorable Lisa P. Jackson Administrator Environmental Protection Agency Ariel Rios Building 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W....
BIO Requests for FY 2012 Energy and Water Appropriations Act
May 17 2011
Dear Chairman Frelinghuysen and Ranking Member Visclosky: On behalf of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), I am writing to...
Biofuels: Congress Should Maintain Renewable Fuel Standard, BIO and Other Groups Urge (May 17, 2011)
May 17 2011
Dear Chairman Upton, Chairman Boxer, Ranking Member Waxman, and Ranking Member Inhofe: As the leading advocates of the U.S. biofuels...
Biofuels: BIO Opposes New Hampshire's Proposed Ethanol Ban
April 28 2011
Committee on Transportation New Hampshire State Senate Hearing on HB 374, banning corn-based ethanol as an additive to gasoline sold...
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Press Releases

BIO Testifies to House Agriculture Subcommittee That Farm Bill Energy Programs Are Working
May 18 2012
“Farm Bill energy programs are working and BIO member companies are beginning to put steel in the ground,...
BIO Thanks Reps. Pascrell, Bilbray for Policy that Levels the Playing Field for Renewable Chemicals
April 27 2012
Clearing the path for commercialization of homegrown renewable chemical technology can enhance energy security and...
Groups Ask Senators to Authorize DOE Funding for Interagency Project on Military Biofuel
April 27 2012
Energy security is a vital part of national security; we can improve energy security with advanced biofuel production...
BIO Applauds Senate Agriculture Committee for Passing Bipartisan Farm Bill
April 27 2012
The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) thanks members of the Senate Agriculture Committee, in particular...
BIO Asks House Committee on Ways and Means to Extend Critical Tax Provisions
April 26 2012
The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) today submitted a statement for the record to the House Ways and Means...
More Press Releases →