Industrial Biotechnology Reaches a Tipping Point for Economic Growth
WASHINGTON, July 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Thomas C. Dorr, Under Secretary for
Rural Development, U.S. Department of Agriculture, today welcomed attendees
to the third annual World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and
Bioprocessing. In his remarks, Dorr discussed the importance of bioenergy
and biobased products for rural economic development in the United States.
The World Congress is being held through July 14, 2006 at the Toronto
Westin Harbour Castle Hotel.
"Industrial biotechnology is the enabling technology that allows us to
convert crops to fuels, renewable chemicals and biobased products of all
sorts. USDA is committed to seeing the industrial biotechnology sector used
more and more widely throughout the manufacturing and energy sectors," Dorr
said, explaining the U.S. government's interest in industrial biotechnology
for rural economic development.
Dorr also noted the important role that industrial biotechnology will
play in rural, agricultural economies. "Because the biotechnology
revolution rests squarely on agricultural feedstocks, this is also an
extraordinary opportunity for American agriculture and, more broadly, for
investment, growth, and wealth creation not just in rural America, but also
in rural areas all across this globe," he said.
"From a Rural Development standpoint, sustainable development --
investment, jobs, and wealth creation in rural communities -- that's my
goal. Biotechnology -- in the form of biofuels and in the form of other
biobased products -- offers rural America its largest new opportunity in
history," Dorr concluded.
Brent Erickson, Executive Vice President of the Biotechnology Industry
Organization's (BIO) Industrial & Environmental Section, introduced Dorr,
noting that industrial biotechnology is being widely adopted throughout the
U.S. economy -- in energy, chemicals, and manufacturing. "In 2005 and 2006,
industrial biotechnology really came of age, driven by a 'perfect storm' of
high energy prices, low energy security, developing market pull, and
technological products reaching the market. These factors mean that
industrial biotechnology has reached a tipping point and has become a
mega-trend," Erickson said.
"Record attendance at the World Congress is another indication that
industrial biotechnology has reached a tipping point," Erickson noted.
The World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing is
hosted by BIO, the 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.
SOURCE Biotechnology Industry Organization
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Related links:
http://www.bio.org/
CONTACT:
Paul Winters of Biotechnology Industry
Organization, +1-202-962-9237, +1-202-359-6571 (mobile), or
pwinters@bio.org
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