BIO Applauds President’s Message at Advancing Renewable Energy Conference

WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 13, 2006) – Jim Greenwood, president and CEO of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), welcomed announcements by President Bush, Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman, and Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns at the Advancing Renewable Energy: An American Rural Renaissance conference in St. Louis.

Grants for biomass research, development and demonstration projects announced by Secretaries Bodman and Johanns on Oct. 11 include money for biotechnology research into doubling switchgrass yields and diversifying feedstocks for biobased fuels to enhance their economic competitiveness. Also announced during the conference is a proposed rule designating 10 additional biobased items for preferred federal procurement.

Greenwood praised the announcements stating, “The biotech industry is grateful to the President and Secretaries Bodman and Johanns for the positive steps they announced at the Advancing Renewable Energy conference to support development of biofuels and bioproducts that will help America end its over-reliance on oil. Reducing dependence on traditional fuel sources and lessening environmental impacts are important to America’s future economic growth and competitiveness. Biotechnology holds the keys to making biofuels and bioproducts cost effective through the development of new feedstocks, novel enzymes, and fermentation technology.

“The application of biotechnology in the industrial setting is affecting a paradigm shift in how we produce energy and make consumer items. These programs will help speed the promise of biofuels.

“BIO supports the production of ethanol from all feedstocks. Agricultural biotechnology is helping to increase corn yields, while industrial biotechnology is helping to convert corn starch and crop residues into ethanol more efficiently. With ongoing advances in biotechnology, biofuels can help America meet nearly half its transportation-fuel needs by the middle of this century.”

BIO represents more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and 31 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. www.bio.org

Upcoming Events

BIO CEO & Investor Conference 2007
Feb. 12-14, 2007 New York City

2007 World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing
March 21-24, 2007 Orlando, Fla.

BIO International Convention
May 6-9, 2007 Boston, MA

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