Biofuel and renewable chemical company executives along with consumer product companies seeking partnerships in the renewable sector will be featured at BIO’s 9th annual World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing, in Orlando, Fla., April 29 - May 2 at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center. Online registration for the conference is now open.

Brent Erickson, executive vice president of BIO’s Industrial & Environmental Section, said, “We are excited to bring this conference to Orlando to highlight the industry's growth, particularly in the Southeast region. Industrial and environmental biotechnology is revitalizing manufacturing and creating new opportunities for agriculture, generating jobs, making greener products and cleaner processes, all aimed at building a biobased economy.”

BIO’s World Congress will host the following sessions with companies representing the Southeast:

Toward a Billion Tons: Biomass & Purpose Grown Energy CropsMonday, April 30, 2:30pm – 4:00pm

  • Michael Cunningham, ArborGen
  • Alex Ablaev, Russian Biofuels Association
  • Bob Randle, Genera
  • David Bransby, Auburn University

Fuels and Chemicals from Residues and MSWTuesday, May 1, 8:30am – 10:00am

  • Grune Guerry, Duke University
  • Armindo Ribeiro Gaspar, Novozymes
  • Cesar Granda, Terrabon, Inc
  • Randy Cortright, Virent, Inc.

What’s Driving Demand for Biotech Products: A Customer’s Perspective?Wednesday, May 2, 12:00pm – 2:15pm

  • Melody Bomgardner, Chemical & Engineering News
  • David A. Benko, Goodyear Tire
  • Jim Goddard, Nike
  • Scott Vitters, The Coca Cola Company

The world’s largest industrial biotechnology conference for business leaders, investors, academics and policymakers in biofuels, biobased products, renewable chemicals, synthetic biology, food ingredients and biomass comes to Orlando, Fla., April 29 - May 2 at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center. Please visit http://www.bio.org/worldcongress/ for additional information, or email worldcongress@bio.org.

Online pre-registration for reporters and editors is now open. All breakout and plenary sessions at the BIO World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing are open to attendance by members of the media. Complimentary media registration is available to editors and reporters with valid press credentials working full time for print, broadcast or web publications.

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 BIOtech NOW, an online portal and monthly newsletter chronicling “innovations transforming our world.” Subscribe to BIOtech NOW.

Upcoming BIO Events

BIO IP Counsels Committee ConferenceApril 16 – 18, 2012Austin, TX

World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology & BioprocessingApril 29-May 2, 2012Orlando, FL

2012 BIO International ConventionJune 18-21, 2012Boston, MA

BIO Business ForumJune 18 – 21, 2012Boston, MA