Cellulosic ethanol on the agenda for BIO 2006 in Chicago
WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 7, 2006) -- Biofuels and industrial biotechnology, the “third wave of biotechnology,” will be one of many topics on the agenda at the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) 2006 Annual International Convention April 9-12 at Chicago’s McCormick Place.
President Bush in his State of the Union speech highlighted the need to develop alternatives to foreign oil and fossil fuels to address soaring transportation fuel costs. Investing in production of ethanol from corn and cellulosic ethanol from agricultural wastes can reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil.
Commenting on Bush’s speech, Jim Greenwood, president & CEO of BIO, said, “The Advanced Energy Initiative proposed by the President will increase America’s competitiveness by providing clean, affordable energy sources that will enable us to lessen our dependence on foreign oil through biotechnology. Using crop wastes, we can produce tens of billions of gallons of ethanol. We could produce 25 percent of our transportation fuel need by 2015 if we dramatically ramp up biorefinery development.”
Experts predict 2006 will be the tipping point for industrial biotechnology as biological processes replace chemical processes in manufacturing, pharmaceutical and energy production and add value to industries converting to biotech processes.
BIO 2006 will present 12 breakout sessions on these increasingly important technologies and their impact on Midwestern states, including topics on biorefineries, the biological production of ethanol, improving renewable fuels, environmental biotechnology and the economics of industrial and environmental technology. Details on these sessions and others at BIO 2006 can be found at http://www.bio.org/events/2006/.
Advance media registration for BIO 2006 is now available online. Registration is complimentary for credentialed members of the news media. To register, please visit www.bio.org/events/2006/reg/ . 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 Friday, March 31, 2006.
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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