The objective of this conference is to bring together key international technical experts from government and public institutions from current and future liquid biofuels producing and consuming countries to share information and experiences on the science, technology and economics of biofuels development. Participating countries from a diverse range of economies will seek consensus on steps to improve future collaboration, especially in the area of research. The target audience from invited countries is government and other public officials who will engage in discussions with U.S. public sector officials and receive specialized briefings from experts.
Opening Ceremony and Keynote Address |
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| Moderator: Michael Yost, Administrator, FAS |
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WELCOME AND OPENING REMARKS
Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Dr. R. Timothy Mulcahy, Vice President for Research,
University of Minnesota |
8:30AM-8:55AM |
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
USDA’s Role in Global Bioenergy Development
Dr. Gale Buchanan
Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics
U.S. Department of Agriculture |
8:55AM-9:15AM |
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Science and Technology Sessions |
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Biofuels: Challenges and Opportunities Ahead
The natural resource and technical challenges and opportunities associated with the burgeoning bioeconomy
Moderator: Dr. Pai-Yei Whung, Director, Office of International Research Programs, Agricultural Research Service, USDA |
Role of USDA Research and Development in the Emerging Bioeconomy
Dr. Ghassem Asrar,
Deputy Administrator, Natural Resources and Sustainable
Agricultural Systems, Agricultural Research Service, USDA |
9:15AM-9:40AM |
EC Research Priorities in the Area of Bio-Based Products
Dr. Laurent Bochereau,
Head of Science, Technology and Education Section Delegation of the European Commission to the US
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9:40AM-10:05AM |
The Promise of Energy Biosciences
Dr. Steve Koonin, Chief Scientist, BP, p.l.c. |
10:05AM-10:30 AM |
Challenges and Perspectives for RD&I for Brazilian Agroenergy
Dr. Kepler Euclides Filho, Executive Director, Empresa Brasileira
de Pesquisa Agropecuária, Embrapa – Brazil |
10:30AM-10:55AM |
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| Morning Break |
11:00AM-11:20AM |
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Science and Technology Panels |
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Second Generation Feedstocks
Prospects for “second generation” feedstock technologies
Moderator: Dr. Steven Shafer, Area Director, USDA-ARS
Biotechnology Options for Bioenergy Crops, Dr. Richard Flavell, Chief Scientific Officer, Ceres, Inc., USA
Switchgrass: Production, Economics, and Net Energy, Dr. Ken Vogel, Research Leader, USDA-ARS, Lincoln, Nebraska
United Kingdom Biofuel Activities, Initiatives and Successes: Scientific and technological development of agricultural production and conversion for biofuels, Dr. Melvyn F. Askew,
CSL Fellow, Central Science Laboratory (CSL), York, United Kingdom
Q/A (10 minutes) |
11:20AM-12:30PM |
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Agricultural Production and Biomass Conversion
Biomass Production and Feedstock Options, Conversion challenges, decision making tools and impacts on the development of feedstocks
Moderator: Dr. Allen S. Levine
Dean, College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, University of Minnesota
Biofuel Feedstock Options and Conversion Platforms for Today and Tomorrow,
Dr. Kevin Hicks, Research Leader, USDA-ARS, Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania
Sweet Sorghum: A dryland-adapted, pro-poor bioethanol feedstock yielding both grain and fuel,
Dr. Belum V.S. Reddy, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), India
Biodiesel: Brazilian Perspective. New and Future Feedstocks for its Production. The Official Brazilian Biodiesel Test Program, Dr. Miguel Dabdoub, Sao Paulo Biofuels Association, Brazil
Biomass Production Decision Making Tools and Planning, Dr. Robert Anex
Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
Iowa State University
Q/A (10 minutes) |
1:40PM-3:10PM |
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| Afternoon Break |
3:10PM-3:30PM |
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Sustainable Production & Environmental Considerations
Technical challenges of biofuel crops to enhance their sustainability
Moderator: Dr. Robert P. Elde, Dean, College of Biological Sciences, University of Minnesota
Making Crop Residues a Sustainable Feedstock for Biofuel Production, Dr. Wallace Wilhelm, Plant Physiologist, USDA-ARS and Director of the Renewable Energy Assessment Project
Sustainability of Biomass Production in Context, Dr. David I. Bransby, Professor, Energy Crops and Bioenergy, Auburn University, Alabama
Ethanol Production and Water Quality, Dr. Thomas W. Simpson, Professor, University of Maryland
Biofuels from Perennial Prairie Plant Polycultures and the Ecosystem Services they Provide,
Dr. Jason Hill, Research Associate, University of Minnesota
Biofuel Climatic Risks Zoning in Brazil, Dr. Eduardo Assad, Agroclimatologist, Embrapa, Brazil
Q/A (10 minutes) |
3:30PM-5:20PM |
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| Final announcements and closing for the day |
5:20PM |
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| Reception, hosted by the University of Minnesota |
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| Bus departs from Crowne Plaza hotel |
5:30PM |
Reception hosted by the University of Minnesota
Eastcliff, residence of the President of the University of Minnesota
176 N. Mississippi River Boulevard
St. Paul, MN 55104 |
6:00PM |
| Return to hotel |
7:30PM |
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Economic Impacts and Outlook Panels |
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Commercialization and Economic Impacts Considerations
Economic impacts of biofuels on farmers, processors, fuel end users, and producers of other agricultural commodities and on commercialization of biofuels
Moderator: Mr. William (Bill) Lee, Former President, Renewable Fuels Association
Bioproducts - Everything Old is New Again, Dr. Roger Conway, Director, Office of Energy Policy and New Uses, USDA
Dr. Yue Guojun, Assistant President, Cofco Ltd.
Future Biofuels Policy Alternatives, Dr. Wallace E. Tyner, Professor Agricultural Economics, Purdue University
Commercialization of First Generation Biofuels, Dr. Vernon Eidman, Professor Emeritus and former Head, Department of Applied Economics, University of Minnesota
Q/A (20 minutes) |
8:30AM-10:10AM |
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| Morning Break |
10:10AM-10:30AM |
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International Biofuels Economic Outlook Panel
Current international economic outlook for biofuels production
Moderator: Dr. Melvyn F. Askew, Central Science Laboratory (CSL), York, United Kingdom
Support for Biofuels — Considerations for Policymakers, Dr. Masami Kojima, Senior Energy and Environment Specialist, World Bank
The World Energy Outlook 2006 – Outlook for Biofuels, Dr. Teresa Malyshev, Senior Energy Analyst, International Energy Agency
Global Biofuels Trends and Economic Forces Determining the Future Size of the Maize-based Ethanol Industry, Dr. Robert N. Wisner, Agricultural Economist & University Professor, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
Rising Biofuels Prices – Blessing or Curse for Food Security? Dr. A. Arslan Gürkan, Chief, Commodities and Trade Division, Economic and Social Department, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Q/A (20 minutes) |
10:30AM-12:00PM |
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International Perspectives Sessions |
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INTRODUCTORY REMARKS
Mr. Michael Yost, Administrator, USDA-FAS |
1:00PM-1:10PM |
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International Perspectives Session A
Moderator: Ms. Constance Jackson, Associate Administrator, USDA-FAS
International Country Representatives:
Africa:
Bio-diesel research and production in Kenya, Dr. Joseph Keriko, Institute of Energy and Environmental Technology (IEET), Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Nairobi, Kenya
Europe:
Agricultural biofuels – Bulgarian Perspectives, Prof. Atanas Atanassov, AgroBioInstitute, Director, Bulgaria
Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe e.V. (FNR), Central German Co-Ordination Agency for the Promotion and Dissemination of Renewable Resources, Mr. Ronny Winkelmann, Project Manager, Agency of Renewable Resources, Germany
Commercialisation of biofuels in Poland, Podlaski Sławomir, Warsaw Agricultural University Warsaw, Poland
Biofuels – activities in Sweden, Mr. Fredrik Odelram, Senior Administrative Officer, Agriculture and Forestry Division, Sweden |
1:10PM-2:45PM |
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| Afternoon Break |
2:45PM-3:00PM |
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International Perspectives Session B
Moderator: Dr. Asif Chaudhry, Deputy Administrator, Office of Global Analysis, USDA-FAS
Asia:
Non-food feedstock and the road map of China’s bioethanol industry, Dr. Shi-Zhong Li, Institute of New Energy, Tsinghua University, Beijing - PRC
Current status of research and development on Jatropha (Jatropha curcus) for sustainable biofuel production in India, Dr. M.S. Punia, Executive Director, National Oilseeds and Vegetable Oils Development Board, Ministry of Agriculture, Haryana, India
Biofuel development in Indonesia, Ms. Yanni Kussuryani, Coordinator of Process Technology Research Programme Group, Department of Energy and Mineral Resources, Republic of Indonesia
Technological progress and commercialization of biodiesel in Malaysia, Mr. Mohammed Basri Wahid, Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia
Latin America:
Bioenergy value chain construction methodology, Mr. Miguel Almada, Secretariat of Agriculture Livestock, Fishing and Food; and Mr. Martín Fraguío, Director, Argentine Corn Association, Buenos Aires, Argentina |
3:00PM-4:45PM |
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Closing Ceremony |
| Moderator: Dr. Gale Buchanan, Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics, USDA |
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Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC)
Ambassador Reno L. Harnish III, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State
Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
U.S. Department of State |
4:45-5:10PM |
Closing Remarks
Mr. Thomas C. Dorr
Under Secretary for Rural Development
U.S. Department of Agriculture |
5:10PM-5:30PM |
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Download Printable Agenda 
