Pacific Rim Summit to Highlight Biotechnology Tools for the Green Economy | Reuters

WASHINGTON–(Business Wire)– Developing and developed countries across the Pacific Rim are adopting biotech solutions to cut greenhouse gas emissions, efficiently utilize resources, and jumpstart economic growth. The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) today announced the sessions and speaker presentations to be delivered at the 2009 Pacific Rim Summit on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy, to be held Nov. 8-11, 2009 in Honolulu.

Brent Erickson, executive vice president of BIO`s Industrial and Environmental Section, said, "The growth and development of clean-tech and green product technologies offer opportunities for sustainable industrial production, new green jobs, and future economic growth. Current talks about the international climate change treaty have focused on possible tradeoffs between economic development and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Industrial biotechnology is a green technology and a proven engine of innovation that can help all countries develop renewable energy and products, transform industrial processes to lessen environmental impacts, and promote economic growth."

Presentations scheduled for the Pacific Rim Summit include:

International Developments in Algae Commercialization
Monday, Nov. 9, 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

* Valerie Reed, US Department of Energy
* Patrick McGinn, Institute of Marine Biosciences NRC Canada
* Ravi Shrivastava, DRDO

East Meets West: A Comparison of China, Brazil, and U.S. Biofuels Policy
Monday, Nov. 9, 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

* Christina Connelly, Minnesota Department of Agriculture
* Joel Velasco, UNICA Sugar Cane Industry Association
* Dehua Liu, Tsinghua University

Global Perspectives on the Bioeconomy
Monday, Nov. 9, 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

* Michael Ott, Iowa Biotechnology Association

* Maurice Kaya, Hawaii Department of Business & Economic Development * Chris Boalch, New Zealand Trade & Enterprise

The full schedule of speakers and sessions is available at http://www.bio.org/pacrim/speakers/breakout/.

BIO also today announced that the 2010 World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing will be held in Washington, D.C., at the Gaylord National Harbor, June 27-30, 2010.

About BIO

BIO represents more than 1,200 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.

The Advanced Biofuels & Climate Change Information Center presents the latest commentary and data on the environmental and other impacts of biofuel production. Drop in and add your comments, at http://biofuelsandclimate.wordpress.com/.

Upcoming BIO Events

BIO Investor Forum
October 28-29, 2009
San Francisco, CA

Advanced Business Development Course
October 30, 2009
Vienna, Austria

BIO Europe International Partnering Conference
November 2-4, 2009
Vienna, Austria

Pacific Rim Summit on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy
November 8-11, 2009
Honolulu, HI

BIO Paul Winters
202-962-9237
pwinters@bio.org

www.bio.org

Pacific Rim Summit to Highlight Biotechnology Tools for the Green Economy | Reuters