Abstract
Each year the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) hosts the BIO World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology to showcase the latest innovations in the field. Moreover, the world's largest conference on industrial biotechnology is an opportunity for those innovating in industrial biotechnology to hear about the latest breakthroughs and partner with others in the industry to take these revolutionary products beyond the lab to market.
For more than 15 years, the BIO World Congress has zig-zagged across North America, from Florida to California and Canada. This year, however, the BIO World Congress is heading to America's Heartland. The 2019 BIO World Congress will take place at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines, Iowa, July 8–11, 2019.
In bringing the event to the Midwest, the conference will also expand its programming on innovation in food and agriculture with new sessions in the educational tracks.
The beloved American author Mark Twain once coined the phrase “body of the nation” to describe the states whose borders shape the trajectory of the mighty Mississippi. Iowa is, indeed, the body of the nation and the heartland of our sector.
Iowa is the birthplace of many products of industrial and agriculture biotechnology.
Iowa is the top producer of corn, one of the top producing biomass states, and is home to hundreds of companies and research centers innovating in both food and industrial processes. Essentially, the expansion of the biobased economy starts with Iowa.
Not only does Iowa supply the corn and biomass to make biofuels, renewable chemicals, and biobased products, Iowa produces a lot of food. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Iowa produces the second-most food in the country—second to California.
For this reason, the 2019 BIO World Congress will include new programming on Sustainability and the Future of Food, as well as Advances in Genome Editing and Genomics.
Advancements in agriculture, such as gene editing, hold tremendous potential to reduce agriculture's impact on the environment, feed a growing population by securing the food supply, and mitigating the effects of climate change, but acceptance of this burgeoning technology will depend on consumers' perceptions.
Included in these tracks are sessions on what the future of food may look like and how consumer skepticism or optimism will help shape that future. In these sessions, you will hear from Suzy Friedman with the Environmental Defense Fund, Slyvie Wulf, the newly appointed CEO at AquaBounty and Kathleen Zelman at WebMD, just to name a few. We will also continue to focus on new food ingredients and flavors, such as those featured in this year's “Ingredients for a Healthier Tomorrow” track. There, you'll hear from speakers like Brian Spears from New Age Meats and Phaedra Randolph from Spero Foods.
The BIO World Congress is known as the premier event on industrial biotechnology and programming on cutting edge innovation in the areas of advanced biofuels, synthetic biology, renewable chemicals and bio-based products at this year's event will be as robust as ever.
With consumer demand for sustainable, environmentally friendly materials and production methods increasing, biobased products are being looked at as the solution. From bioplastics to durable biomaterials and biofuels, to cosmetics and new food ingredients, the innovations happening in industrial biotechnology are moving at almost breakneck speed.
In Des Moines, attendees can learn about these latest biotech innovations—whether it be the latest renewable chemical route to biodegradable plastics and other biomaterials or the newest feedstocks to turn into clean biofuels—through conference-wide plenary sessions, breakout sessions, super sessions and workshops.
Also new to this year's BIO World Congress are the Iowa Bioeconomy Site Tours taking place throughout the conference. Starting on Monday, July 8, BIO World Congress attendees can embark on a tour of Iowa State University's Biorenewables Research Laboratory, as well as its Bioeconomy Institute and the NSF Center for Biorenewable Chemicals. Also happening on Monday, attendees can set out on a tour of both Bayer and Corteva operations in the region.
Rounding out the bioeconomy tours, attendees can choose from two treks on Thursday, July 11. There will be a two-hour tour from 10 AM—noon to the Renewable Energy Group's (REG) biofuel facility. REG is North America's largest producer of advanced biofuels. Or attendees can embark on a visit to Cargill's Iowa Bioprocessing Center in Eddyville, Iowa, from 10 AM–4:30 PM.
While bioeconomy tours and expanded programming on food and agriculture are new to the BIO World Congress, the awards at the conference have been a staple year after year.
Every year, BIO recognizes three individuals for their contributions to the advancement of industrial biotechnology. Last year, Industrial Biotechnology's own Larry Walker was honored with the Leadership and Legacy Award in Industrial Biotechnology and Agriculture. Industrial Biotechnology is also the official publication of the 2019 BIO World Congress.
A new winner for the Leadership and Legacy Award will be announced in Des Moines, as well as winners of the George Washington Carver Award for Innovation in Industrial Biotechnology and Agtech and the Rosalind Franklin Award for Leadership in Industrial Biotechnology.
BIO is excited to be hosting the 2019 BIO World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology in a region that allows us to showcase innovation across the value chain, from the fields to the labs. After all, the strength of the biobased economy depends on the strength of Iowa.
We look forward to seeing you in Des Moines.