BIO Applauds USDA Announcement of biomass projects areas.

Press Release Summary:



BIO applauded Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack's announcement of 4 new Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) project areas in 6 states that are expected to generate as many as 3,400 jobs in rural areas. According to Brent Erickson, executive VP of BIO's Industrial and Environmental Section, rules for Farm Bill Energy Title programs, such as BCAP, "have only recently been finalized, and we greatly appreciate Secretary Vilsack's efforts to speedily implement them."



Original Press Release:



BIO Applauds USDA Announcement of New Biomass Projects Areas



WASHINGTON--The Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) helps growers in every state establish energy crops for bioenergy, advanced biofuels, and biobased products. The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) today applauded Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack's announcement of four new BCAP project areas in six states that are expected to generate as many as 3,400 jobs in rural areas.

"Establishing bioenergy crops is a prerequisite for building commercial-scale advanced biorefineries for biofuels, biobased products and bioenergy. The Farm Bill Energy Title programs, such as the Biomass Crop Assistance Program, help growers, financers and biorefiners coordinate their efforts to build the industry from the ground up with a fully integrated supply chain," stated Brent Erickson, executive vice president of BIO's Industrial & Environmental Section.

"The rules for many of these programs have only recently been finalized, and we greatly appreciate Secretary Vilsack's efforts to speedily implement them. The announcement today brings the total number of BCAP project areas to nine, representing 10 states. These projects will demonstrate the ability to grow bioenergy crops in every region of the United States, which can support hundreds of thousands of jobs within the bioenergy industry. Continuation of this program is vital to continued development of the advanced biofuels and biobased products industry."

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 India International Partnering Conference
September 21-22, 2011
Hyderabad, India

BIO China International Conference
October 12-13, 2011
Shanghai, China

10th Annual BIO Investor Forum
October 25-26, 2011
San Francisco, Calif.

BIO-Europe 2011
October 31-November 2, 2011
Duesseldorf, Germany

BIO IP Counsels Committee Fall Conference & Meeting
November 2-4, 2011
New York, NY

BioMalaysia 2011 Conference & Exhibition/
2011 Pacific Rim Summit on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy
November 21-23, 2011
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Contacts
Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO)
Paul Winters, 202-962-9237
pwinters@bio.org
www.bio.org

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