BIO Thanks Agriculture Secretary Vilsack, Energy Secretary Chu for Biomass Program and R&D Grants
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Thursday, May 05, 2011) - The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) today thanked Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Energy Secretary Steven Chu on the announcement of Biomass Research And Development Initiative grants and the establishment of a Biomass Crop Assistance Plan project area. BIO congratulated member companies Cellana LLC of Hawaii and Metabolix Inc. of Massachusetts on receiving awarded grants.
Brent Erickson, executive vice president of BIO’s Industrial and Environmental Section, stated, “Biotechnology, biomass production and biofuels are keys to creating good rural and urban jobs in research, development, manufacturing, agricultural production and forestry. These research and development projects can help create the necessary value chain for biomass to be used for advanced biofuels, renewable chemicals and bioenergy.
“Growing, harvesting and converting biomass into fuels, energy, and chemicals could add $230 billion to the global economy by 2020. Advanced biofuel production could create hundreds of thousands of jobs for researchers, plant operators, and construction workers. And growing biomass for these biorefineries can add jobs in rural areas where economic development is most needed.
“BIO and its member companies thank Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Energy Secretary Steven Chu for their leadership in making this a reality.”
Upcoming BIO Events
World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology & Bioprocessing
May 8-11, 2011
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Partnering for Global Health Forum 2011
June 27, 2011
Washington, DC
BIO International Convention
June 27-30, 2011
Washington, DC
2011 BIO Human Resources Conference
June 26-28, 2011
Washington, DC
The Business Forum at the BIO International Convention
June 28-30, 2011
Washington, DC
BIO India International Partnering Conference
September 21-22, 2011
Hyderabad, India
BIO China International Conference
October 12-13, 2011
Shanghai, China
About BIO
BIO represents more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the BIO International Convention, the world’s largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world. BIO produces BIOtechNOW, an online portal and monthly newsletter chronicling “innovations transforming our world.” Subscribe to BIOtechNOW.
For more information:
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