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Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to Give Keynote Speech at BIO’s World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Tuesday, June 08, 2010) - Industrial biotechnology can make significant contributions to worldwide economic growth through innovative applications for sustainable biofuels and biobased products. The Biotechnology Industry Organization today announced an additional plenary session, featuring a keynote address by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, at the seventh annual World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing, June 27-30, 2010 in Washington, D.C.

Brent Erickson, executive vice president for BIO’s Industrial and Environmental Section, stated, “BIO is pleased that Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack will address attendees of the World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing. Increasing production and use of biomass, advanced biofuels and biobased products can create green jobs and spur economic development in rural areas. Secretary Vilsack has made these priorities for the Obama administration, and he well understands that they are enabled by biotechnology.”

Prior to the keynote address by Secretary Vilsack, BIO will present the third annual George Washington Carver Award, recognizing the significant contributions of an individual to the field of industrial biotechnology. Erickson continued, “The award honors the original vision of George Washington Carver who, over a century ago, achieved world renown by using agriculture and science to produce everyday products, changing the nature of farm economics and sustainability.”

Following the address, Novozymes President and CEO Steen Riisgaard and other industrial biotechnology company executives will present data from a new report on the contributions of industrial biotechnology to worldwide economic growth.

WHEN:          Tuesday, June 29, 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. EDT
WHAT:          The Marriage of Industrial and Agricultural Biotechnology: Implications for the Global Economy

Presentation of the George Washington Carver Award (winner to be announced), by Brent Erickson, Executive Vice President, BIO

Keynote Address by Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture

Address by Steen Riisgaard, President and CEO, Novozymes, Denmark

 

The plenary session will be presented via live webinar from the 2010 World Congress. A password will be required to participate. The webinar will be available at https://biotechnology.webex.com/biotechnology. To reserve space and receive password instructions, please contact Paul Winters, Communications Director, BIO at 202-962-9237 or pwinters@bio.org.

The annual World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing – co-organized by BIO, BIOTECanada, and the U.S. Department of Energy – is the original and only conference dedicated solely to industrial biotechnology and the most recent advancements in the field. Visit www.bio.org/worldcongress.

All programs at the World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing are open to attendance by members of the media. Registration for the World Congress is now open and is complimentary for credentialed members of the news media. Reporters and editors working full-time for print, broadcast, and online news organizations may register onsite with valid media credentials. All freelancers, college and online publications are strongly encouraged to register in advance. For more information, please visit http://bio.org/worldcongress/media/media_registration.asp.

Upcoming BIO Events

World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing
June 27-30, 2010
Washington, DC

BIO India
September 21 - 22, 2010
Hyderabad, India

BIO’s Livestock Biotechnology Summit
September 28-30, 2010,
Sioux Falls, SD

BIO Investor Forum
October 5-6, 2010
San Francisco, CA
 
BIO Intellectual Property Counsels Committee Fall Conference and Committee Meeting
October 18-20, 2010
Boston, MA

 

 About BIO

BIO represents more than 1,200 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the BIO International Convention, the world’s largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world.

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