Producing More Biofuels a Focus of World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology

Search Blogs that Mention this News Release
Click this link to view linked Bookmarking Services
Click this link to view linked Blogging Services
Producing More Biofuels a Focus of World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology
    WASHINGTON, June 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Ethanol and biodiesel are currently
in high demand throughout the world, due to record oil prices and new
mandates for use of renewable fuel in the United States, Europe and Canada.
New research and commercial production methods to meet increased demand for
biofuels will be one focus of the third annual World Congress on Industrial
Biotechnology and Bioprocessing, to be held July 11-14, 2006 at the Toronto
Westin Harbour Castle Hotel. 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.
    The plenary lunch on Friday, July 14 will feature a panel discussion,
"An International Perspective on Biofuels and Cellulosic Ethanol." Three of
the top thought leaders and experts in the world will discuss current
biofuels issues and the future of cellulosic ethanol as a replacement for
petroleum transportation fuel. The scheduled speakers are Lee Lynd,
professor, Dartmouth University Thayer School of Engineering; Susan Hunt,
biofuels project manager, Worldwatch Institute; and Fernando Reinach, CEO,
Alellyx, and director, Votorantim New Business (Brazil).
    Some sessions focusing on the latest research in biofuels and on
overcoming hurdles to commercialization include:
    *  21st Century Biology for Biofuels Production -- Thursday, July 13 at
       8:30 a.m.
       John Houghton, U.S. Department of Energy; Mike Ladisch, Purdue
       University; Sharon Shoemaker, University of California, Davis; and Jim
       Fredrickson, Pacific Northwest National Lab will review the latest
       research in biotechnology for making fuel from agricultural feedstocks.

    *  Enzymes for Cellulosic Ethanol -- Thursday, July 13 at 10:15 a.m.
       Enzymes used in ethanol production will be discussed by representatives
       of biotech companies, including Lambert van Orsouw, DIREVO Biotech;
       Greg Stephanopoulos, MIT; Marco Baez, Dyadic International; and Mark
       Burk, Diversa.

    *  Building Infrastructure for the Biodiesel Industry -- Thursday, July 13
       at 3:30 p.m.
       Representatives of large bioenergy and agriculture companies will
       examine necessary steps to bringing biofuels to the market.
       Participants include Timothy Conner, Monsanto; Ed Green, Dow
       Haltermann; and Morten Wurtz Christensen, Novozymes.

    *  The Potential of Energy Crops -- Friday, July 14 at 8:30 a.m.
       David Bransby of Auburn University, Emily Heaton of the University of
       Illinois, and Edward Richard of USDA examine the potential of
       switchgrass, miscanthus and other dedicated energy crops to meet the
       transportation fuel demands of the United States.

    *  Biofuels: Perspectives from the Oil Industry -- Friday, July 14 at
       10:15 a.m.
       Jack Huttner, Genencor and Justin Adams, British Petroleum, will
       participate in this panel, examining growing interest in biofuels among
       petroleum producers.
    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.
SOURCE Biotechnology Industry Organization
http://www.bio.org
CONTACT:
Paul Winters of Biotechnology Industry
Organization, +1-202-962-9237