Energy Companies’ Investments in Biofuels Highlighted at World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology
WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 27, 2006) – Major energy producers have recently announced strategic investments to bring biofuels to the marketplace in quantities and at prices that are competitive with petroleum. The energy industry’s perspective on how biofuels will meet our future transportation needs will be presented in a special plenary session at the World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing, to be held July 11-14, 2006 at the Toronto Westin Harbour Castle Hotel.
“There is an ongoing and important shift in fuels production toward industrial biotechnology coupled with the use of renewable agricultural feedstocks,” stated Brent Erickson, executive vice president of BIO’s Industrial and Environmental Section. “Traditional energy producers are thinking biofuels because they recognize the key role industrial biotechnology will play in transforming how we produce fuels and consumer products in the 21st century. These forward-looking energy producers recognize that industrial biotechnology is a key driver for a cleaner, greener and more secure future.”
The plenary session “Biofuels: Perspectives from the Oil Industry” will take place Friday, July 14 at 7:00 a.m. in the Harbour Ballroom.
Justin Adams of BP will be joined by Bill Provine of DuPont to discuss the two companies’ recent partnership to produce biofuels from sugar beets. BP has also made a $500 million investment to found an Energy Biosciences Institute and commercialize research in biofuels. Richard Zelesky, head of Chevron’s newly formed biofuels business unit, will also discuss his company’s partnership with Georgia Tech for commercial biofuel production and distribution. The discussion will be moderated by Jack Huttner of Genencor, which recently announced advancement in enzymes that extract more ethanol from corn.
Advance media registration for the World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing is now available online until July 3. Registration is complimentary for credentialed members of the news media. To register and or to view the program, please visit http://www.bio.org/worldcongress/. Only reporters and editors working full-time for print or broadcast news organizations may register onsite with valid media credentials. All freelancers and online publications must register in advance by Monday, July 3, 2006.
The Congress is hosted by the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), American Chemical Society, the National Agriculture Biotechnology Council, the Agri-Food Innovation Forum, the Chemical Institute of Canada, BIOTECanada and EuropaBIO.
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.
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