BIO Announces Sessions for the 2015 World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology

World’s Largest Industrial Biotech Conference to be Held in Montréal in July

2015 World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) announces that executives from the biofuels, renewable chemical, and airline industries will discuss technology breakthroughs, business partnerships and sustainability initiatives during plenary programs at BIO’s 12th Annual World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology. The world’s largest industrial biotechnology event will be held July 19-22, 2015 at the Palais des congrès de Montréal in Montréal, Canada.

“The Plenary Program for the 2015 World Congress will look at how industry is constantly evolving to meet the mounting consumer demand for cleaner fuel, non-petroleum based industrial products and better food at low costs.”

“Industrial biotechnology is revolutionizing the way we live by transitioning us from a petroleum-based economy to a bio-based economy,” said Brent Erickson, executive vice president for BIO’s Industrial & Environmental Section. “The Plenary Program for the 2015 World Congress will look at how industry is constantly evolving to meet the mounting consumer demand for cleaner fuel, non-petroleum based industrial products and better food at low costs.”

Some highlighted Plenary Sessions include:

Feedstock Sustainability in the Circular Economy

July 20, 2015
Monday Lunch Plenary

Industry executives discuss the assessment of feedstock sustainability and how woody biomass, oilseeds, and agricultural residues help to create a sustainable future.

Moderator: Matthew Rudolf, Business Development Manager, Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials
Speakers:
▪Ken Shields, CEO and Chairman, Conifex Timber
▪Allan Green, Deputy Chief of CSIRO Plant Industry, CSIRO
▪Petri Kukkonen, Vice President, Biofuels, UPM (invited)
▪Richard Taylor, Managing Consultant, E4Tech (invited)
▪James Levine, Chief Executive Officer, Sapphire Energy (invited)

Biobased Innovations for the Future

July 21, 2015
Tuesday Breakfast Plenary

Panelists will discuss the latest breakthroughs and achievements in the science of industrial biotechnology.

Moderator: Jim Lane, Editor and Publisher, Biofuels Digest
Speakers:
▪Olga Selifonova, Reluceo
▪William Radany, President & CEO, Verdezyne
▪David Demirjian, CEO, ZuChem
▪Andras Forgacs, Co-Founder and Chief Executive, Modern Meadows (invited)

Flying the Friendly Green Skies

July 22, 2015
Wednesday Closing Plenary

Aviation biofuels producers, airline companies, and industry experts will highlight the importance of strategic partnerships, the viability of aviation biofuels, funding challenges, and the role of government policy in supporting the growth of the industry.

Moderator: John Heimlich, President, Airlines for America (invited)
Speakers:
▪Michael Lakeman, Boeing/Embraer partnership in Brazil (invited)
▪Alejandro Rios Galvan, Director, Sustainable Bioenergy Research Consortium, Masdar Institute of Science and Technology
▪Jeff Ovens, Biofuels Manager, Cathay Pacific Airlines (invited)
▪Maria Fiskerud, Nordic Director, Sky NRG

All programs at the World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology are open to attendance by members of the media. Complimentary media registration is available to editors and reporters working full time for print, broadcast or web publications with valid press credentials.

For more information on the conference, please visit www.bio.org/worldcongress . For assistance, please contact worldcongress@bio.org .

About BIO
BIO is the world's largest trade association representing 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. BIOtechNOW is BIO's blog chronicling “innovations transforming our world” and the BIO Newsletter is the organization’s bi-weekly email newsletter. Subscribe to the BIO Newsletter.

Upcoming BIO Events

BIO Asia International Conference
March 24-25, 2015
Tokyo, Japan

BIO International Convention
June 15-18, 2015
Philadelphia, PA

Contacts
Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO)
Caitlin G. Kennedy, 202-312-9288
Web: www.bio.org
Blog: www.biotech-now.org
Twitter: @IAmBiotech, #BIOWC15