WASHINGTON, Oct. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Jim Greenwood, president and CEO of
the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), welcomed announcements by
President Bush, Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman, and Secretary of
Agriculture Mike Johanns at the Advancing Renewable Energy: An American
Rural Renaissance conference in St. Louis.
Grants for biomass research, development and demonstration projects
announced by Secretaries Bodman and Johanns on Oct. 11 include money for
biotechnology research into doubling switchgrass yields and diversifying
feedstocks for biobased fuels to enhance their economic competitiveness.
Also announced during the conference is a proposed rule designating 10
additional biobased items for preferred federal procurement.
Greenwood praised the announcements stating, "The biotech industry is
grateful to the President and Secretaries Bodman and Johanns for the
positive steps they announced at the Advancing Renewable Energy conference
to support development of biofuels and bioproducts that will help America
end its over- reliance on oil. Reducing dependence on traditional fuel
sources and lessening environmental impacts are important to America's
future economic growth and competitiveness. Biotechnology holds the keys to
making biofuels and bioproducts cost effective through the development of
new feedstocks, novel enzymes, and fermentation technology.
"The application of biotechnology in the industrial setting is
affecting a paradigm shift in how we produce energy and make consumer
items. These programs will help speed the promise of biofuels.
"BIO supports the production of ethanol from all feedstocks.
Agricultural biotechnology is helping to increase corn yields, while
industrial biotechnology is helping to convert corn starch and crop
residues into ethanol more efficiently. With ongoing advances in
biotechnology, biofuels can help America meet nearly half its
transportation-fuel needs by the middle of this century."
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. http://www.bio.org
Upcoming Events
BIO CEO & Investor Conference 2007
Feb. 12-14, 2007 New York City
2007 World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing
March 21-24, 2007 Orlando, Fla.
BIO International Convention
May 6-9, 2007 Boston, MA
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, pwinters@bio.org
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