Bright future of bio-economy to be focus of conference

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

Delegates from throughout North America and around the world will converge on Saskatoon on October 16 and 17 to discuss emerging technologies, commercial success stories, issues and opportunities in the bio-based economy.

The conference, entitled “Bio-Logical Futures III,” is being organized by Ag-West Bio Inc., the membership-based organization formed to lead and support the development of an economically viable life sciences cluster in Saskatchewan.

Registration has been strong, and well over 100 delegates from a wide variety of backgrounds are expected to attend, according to Ag-West Bio Communications Director Krista Dennis.

“We’ve held two Bio-Logical Futures conferences in the past, and when we didn’t hold one in 2005, we started getting calls about when the next one would be,” said Dennis.

“Now that we’ve built up the brand and image, people in the bio-economy are anticipating another great meeting.”

The conference will feature 28 national and international experts in areas such as bio-energy, bio-materials, bio-lubricants, bio-based chemicals and co-products.

“The current focus on biofuels, such as biodiesel and ethanol, is a real highlight of this year’s presentations,” stated Dennis.

One of the most eagerly anticipated speakers on this front is Don O’Connor, the president of 2 Consultants Inc. and a mechanical engineer with over 30 years of experience in alternative energy development. He will share his unique experiences with the production of ethanol from biomass, as well his knowledge of the fuel industry at both the production and retail levels. O’Connor will take the podium with local speakers like Lionel LaBelle, president of the Saskatchewan Ethanol Development Council.

While many of the conference participants are directly involved in researching or manufacturing bio-products, Dennis says the session is also an excellent opportunity for producers and potential investors in the bio-economy.

“Producers can learn a great deal about the opportunities and the new technologies that create new markets for their crops,” Dennis noted. “Venture capital companies have the chance to meet and talk with entrepreneurs who are still in the start-up phase of their new companies and who are looking for financing.”

The range of new applications for crops is astounding. The conference will hear from Dr. Satya Panigrahi from the University of Saskatchewan’s Department of Agricultural and Bioresource Engineering. Panigrahi is the Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food Chair in Agricultural Material Utilization and Bioprocess Engineering. His remarks will focus on green technology for polymer industries, with specific focus on applications for flax fibre.

Another speaker in that vein is Andrew Guo of the Kansas Polymer Research Centre, who will showcase developments in the use of seed oil to replace petroleum as feedstock for high performance plastic materials.

Ag-West Bio serves over 90 members, including corporations, associations and individuals representing natural health products and functional foods, bio-products, bio-processes and agricultural biotechnology. Its mission, supported by funding from Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food, is to expedite the commercialization of value-added products by linking knowledge and investment with science and enterprise in the development of products that satisfy market needs.

Those interested in learning more about the Bio-Logical Futures III conference can obtain further information at www.biologicalfutures.ca, or by calling (306) 975-1939.

For further information, contact:
Krista Dennis, Communications Director
Ag-West Bio Inc.
Phone: (306) 975-1939