TORONTO, July 14 /PRNewswire/ -- A panel of executives representing BP,
DuPont and Chevron offered their perspectives on the intersection of the
energy and chemical industries with the industrial biotechnology and life
sciences sectors this morning at the third annual World Congress on
Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing. The executives highlighted both
the need for biofuels and other forms of energy and the opportunities that
their respective companies are pursuing through industrial biotechnology.
Justin Adams, Director, Long Term Technology Strategy with BP, began
the discussion by saying that the key drivers of the energy future will be
supply security and environmental constraints. He noted that biofuels can
help to meet these challenges, saying, "Biotechnology holds the key to
driving down the costs of biofuel production" throughout the value chain,
including the development of new feedstocks, novel enzymes, and
fermentation technology. "What chemistry did in the 20th century, biology
will do in the 21st," Adams said.
Bill Provine, Research Manager with DuPont discussed his company's
strategy for using industrial biotechnology throughout the value chain,
from specialized agricultural feedstocks to biotech enzyme and fermentation
processes that produce biobutanol, a new type of biofuel. Richard Zalesky,
Vice President of Biofuels & Hydrogen Business Unit, Chevron Technology
Ventures, outlined a partnership with the state of California and Pacific
Ethanol to study the use of E85 in state-owned vehicles as well as a
collaboration with The Georgia Institute of Technology aimed at making
cellulosic biofuels, biodiesel and hydrogen viable transportation fuels.
The Congress, held through today at the Toronto Westin Harbour Castle
Hotel, 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.
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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