BIO Releases Statement on Ethanol Initiative; Video Available

WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 31, 2006) – Brent Erickson, executive vice president of the Biotechnology Industry Organization’s Industrial & Environmental Section, released the following statement on ethanol as a substitute for imported oil, which may be referenced by President Bush in tonight’s State of the Union Address:

“Biotechnology is revolutionizing the way we make transportation fuel in this country.

“Currently, we make ethanol by fermenting grain. But biotech companies have developed new enzymes that allow us to convert agricultural crop waste – like corn stover – to sugars that then can be fermented into ethanol.

“By using crop wastes as well as grain, we could be producing tens of billions of gallons of ethanol in this country every year and lessening our dependence on foreign petroleum.”

The videotaped statement can be viewed at http://www.bio.org/news/video/ethanolinitiative.asx. Media outlets can request broadcast-quality video by contacting Paul Winters at 202.962.9237 or pwinters@bio.org.

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.

###