Purdue expert to speak at conference on bioeconomy

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - A Purdue University expert in public policy issues involving biofuels will be a keynote speaker at a conference in Canada assessing the social, environmental and economic implications of expected growth in the bioeconomy over the next decade and beyond.

Wally Tyner, the James and Lois Ackerman Professor of Agricultural Economics, will be among featured presenters at the "Growing the Bioeconomy" conference Oct. 2-5 in Banff in the province of Alberta. The conference is presented by the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities, the Association for European Life Science Universities, and the Canadian Faculties of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine.

Environmentalists, policy experts, and science and agricultural leaders from North America and Europe will develop strategies for managing the continued development of biological processes and products such as ethanol and other fuels and industrial products from plants.

Tyner will speak on financial, technological and government-policy obstacles that need to be overcome for production of cellulosic biofuels from such sources as corn stover, wheat straw, forest residues, Miscanthus and switchgrass to be feasible.

"Dr. Tyner's extensive knowledge and expertise will be a tremendous resource in our discussion of the many challenges and opportunities that are before us in the practical and responsible development of cellulosic biofuels," said Jay Akridge, Glenn W. Sample Dean of the College of Agriculture and a member of the conference planning committee.

Because the conference is jointly organized by groups in Europe and North America, speakers from both continents will share their distinct experiences and perspectives, with the expected outcome of achieving shared understanding of the issues and viewpoints among natural and social scientists, economists and environmentalists as well as policy-makers and industry leaders.

The conference, to be held at the Rimrock Hotel, will include a graduate student component, with a special focus on helping to create a global community among tomorrow's generation of scientists.

More details about the conference, including registration information, are on the conference website at http://www.ales.ualberta.ca/Bioeconomy/Program.aspx. There is a discount for registrations made by June 29.

Writer: Keith Robinson, 765-494-2722, robins89@purdue.edu

Sources: Wally Tyner, 765-494-0199, wtyner@purdue.edu

            Jay Akridge, 765-494-8391, akrdige@purdue.edu

Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Keith Robinson, robins89@purdue.edu
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