360 Degrees of Sustainability: Models, Means, and Methods for a Successful Sustainable Industry
ID: 3749

Abstract: In the past decade, the realm of sustainable technologies has experienced an explosion of innovation in research and business opportunities which include biogas, bioethanol, biobutanol, biodiesel, algae, vegetable oil, solar, and geothermal energy programs to name only a handful. To be successful in the emerging sustainable business market, companies require top tier R&D departments, intimate knowledge of government regulations on energy, open relationships with international energy conglomerates, and attention and funds from venture capital. With so many avenues of research and relationships to maintain, what, in every sense of the word, is the “sustainable” business model for sustainable industry? This panel will address the multitude of issues facing businesses in the market of sustainablity from the perspective of a diverse group of actors in the energy space. Panelists will contrast the benefits and pitfalls of disparate business models to provide insight into which models works and which are currently untenable.

The above list provides a 360 degree view of the sustainability industry, bringing a diverse experience to the table that enables discourse in topics ranging form sustainable science specifically biocatalysts and efficient manufacturing of products from antibiotics to monomers, to lobbying and government affairs, and ultimately with the financial perspective.





David Sparling

Canada’s Bioproduct Development Survey provides a unique snapshot of industrial biotechnology in 2003 and 2006. The survey provides not only descriptive statistics of the industry and firms across the country, but management perspectives on the challenges, opportunities and strategies employed. This paper uses results from both years of survey data to map the recent evolution of the industry, including industry-wide changes and shifts in strategies and opportunities resulting from changing markets, policies and technologies.

Despite the opportunities in bioproducts and biofuels, Canada saw a downsizing of its bioproduct industry between 2003 and 2006. While the number of firms grew marginally, the percentage of medium and large firms involved in bioproducts dropped from 36% of the population to 16%. Bioproduct revenue dropped by more than 40% and employment is down by almost 50%.

However, the industry also became more focused on bioproducts and less on other products. The use of agricultural biomass also increased over the period. Despite major reductions in capacity, Canadian firms are expanding their innovative activities —the number of products in the pipeline or on the market rose 38 percent in just three years. This paper explores the factors contributing to that product innovation and the role of finance, intellectual property and strategic relationships among other factors.

The study also identified a shift in the most important drivers for bioproduct development, from sales related benefits to reducing environmental damage and production costs. The greatest challenge has become the high cost of sourcing and transporting biomass, especially important for the one-quarter of firms who source biomass from over 500 km away. However, many firms also reported difficulty getting qualified candidates due to a lack of bioproduct-related education and insufficient resources. As more technologies and products reach the market, these biomass barriers and other production realities are overshadowing the more traditional biotechnology barriers.

This paper explores the changing dynamics in Canadian industrial biotechnology, looking at commonalities that cut across different product lines and input sources. It evaluates the current state of the industry and provides strategic insights from managerial and policy perspectives. In highlighting broad trends in the Canadian industry, as well as firm-level challenges and strategies, this paper provides a unique view of a rapidly changing industry still in its early years.









Moderator: Jim Lane, Biofuels Digest (United States)

Presenter 1: The Evolution of Canada’s Bioproduct Industry – Downsized but More Innovative
David Sparling, University of Guelph, Office of Research, (Canada)  [Confirmed]

Presenter 2: A Sustainable Path Towards a Bio-Based Society 
Arlan Peters, Novozymes, (United States)  [Confirmed]

Presenter 3: Coskata's Sustainable Model for the Environment, Reducing Oil Dependence, and Rapid Commercialization 
William Roe, Coskata, Inc, (United States)  [Confirmed]

Presenter 4 (if necessary): Sustainability of Corn Ethanol: Attacking the Myths 
Kenneth Field, Greenfield Ethanol, (Canada)  [Confirmed]

Panel Organizer:
Andrew Levy, Porter Novelli Life Sciences, (United States)

Why should your submission should be selected for this year’s program?
In an uncertain economy with an uncertain future for fuel and food alike, sustainability is the next essential topic. Panelists will provide insights into ideological motivations behind sustainable business, specific funding strategies from the VC world, and a view into the heart of regulation issues, alongside an inside glimpse of the science itself.