Increasing Crop Yield and Commercializing Cellulosic Biofuels are Key to Meeting Demand for Feed, Fiber and Transportation Fuels

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Thursday, June 12, 2008) - Biotechnology companies will deliver the next big advancements in agricultural productivity and energy security, rural economic growth and a more sustainable biobased infrastructure. That was the message delivered by Jack Huttner, vice president, Biorefinery Business Development at Genencor, on behalf of his company and the Biotechnology Industry Organization during a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing today on the relationship between U.S. renewable fuels policy and food prices.

In his statement to the Committee, Huttner emphasized the role of ag biotech and industrial biotech  to increase yields of agricultural crops and other biomass crops for both food and biofuels and to commercialize second and third generation cellulosic biofuels.

Increased Yield:

“Over the past 30 years, new hybrid varieties of corn have increased yields from 90 to nearly 150 bushels per acre. We believe 200 bushel per acre yields are coming soon. Over the last decade, global consumption of corn has increased 35 percent and soybeans over 50 percent, yet the increased production to meet this demand only required a 6 percent increase in tilled acres.”

Food Production in Developing Countries:

“One problem we face today is the huge fall off seen in developing economies where yields of corn in many regions are in the 30 to 80 bushels per acre range, less than half the average yield in the United States. Policy and investment should focus on yield improvements here and around the world. We have no doubt that sustainable agricultural development can provide both abundant food and biofuel.”

Future of Biofuels:

“In the future, advanced biorefineries will be scattered throughout the rural landscape; this is the promise of the biobased economy. We are just at the beginning of the biofuels journey – not the end.

“A few years from now, second-generation biorefineries will produce a variety of products and liquid fuels. But today’s ethanol plants, and the infrastructure supporting them, are the foundation we will build upon. Without a robust and stable policy framework, the journey will be much more difficult, if not impossible.

“We hope Congress will not be stampeded by our critics to reverse the biofuels policy it has worked so hard to develop and enact. We must keep the Renewable Fuel Standard in place and stay on course to realize the great commercial and environmental potential that a biobased economy can bring.”

For a copy of the full testimony, please contact Paul Winters, director of communications, BIO, at 202-962-9237 or pwinters@bio.org.

The Advanced Biofuels & Climate Change Information Center presents the latest commentary and data on the environmental and other impacts of biofuel production. Drop in and add your comments, at http://biofuelsandclimate.wordpress.com/.

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BIO represents more than 1,200 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.

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