| E-news for for the biotechnology industry | June 3, 2009 |
 |
|
| Looking back on the 2009 BIO International Convention |
| The 2009 BIO International Convention, which was held May 18 to 21 in Atlanta, drew more than 14,300 industry leaders to discuss and share the latest developments and most pressing issues facing the biotech industry. The convention featured 14,040 partnering meetings, in addition to 190 company presentations. For a firsthand account of the biotech industry's visit to Atlanta, check out the convention Web site. In the meantime, peruse the BIO SmartBrief Special Report below for the biggest stories from the recent 2009 BIO International Convention. If you don't receive BIO SmartBrief on a daily basis and have found our show coverage useful, we urge you to sign up for our daily e-newsletter. BIO SmartBrief delivers the industry news you need to know directly to your inbox, and best of all it's free. |
| Heal the World |  |  |
|
- Elton John: Reliance on HIV drugs leads to risk-taking
 Sir Elton John, a longtime HIV/AIDS activist, said in an interview with CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta that advancements in treating the disease are leading some people to take more risks. He says people have become comfortable with the notion that drugs have made HIV a chronic disease rather than a death sentence. Progress in reducing HIV/AIDS in America has taken a step backward, he added, and a major grass-roots effort is needed to educate people on safe sex practices. CNN
(5/19)
    
- New drug-discovery center to boost Georgia biotech
Georgia will be home to a new drug-discovery institute and research center aimed at getting medical devices to market more quickly, Gov. Sonny Perdue announced at the 2009 BIO International Conference in Atlanta. It will be a boon to the biotech sector, one of the most booming industries in Georgia. The Global Center for Medical Innovation will be paid for by the Georgia Institute of Technology, St. Joseph's Translational Research Institute, Piedmont Healthcare and the Georgia Research Alliance. Ledger-Enquirer (Columbus, Ga.)/The Associated Press
(5/19)
 |
|  |
| | BioWorld State of the Industry Report 2009
This report offers proprietary market research that revealing critical data and financial information about trends affecting the biotechnology industry in the U.S. It contains more than 300 up-to-date tables and charts, plus special analysis sections on Wall Street, the FDA, R&D and biotech in Europe. | |
 |
 ADVERTISEMENT |
|  |
| Fuel the World | | |
|
- Experts: Money, not technology, impeding advanced biofuels
Money has replaced technology as the biggest barrier to producing advanced biofuels, according to experts at the 31st Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals. While U.S. companies are ready to produce cellulose-based biofuels in large quantities, the recession has made financing difficult to find for biorefineries that can cost up to $300 million to build. Doug Cameron of investment bank Piper Jaffray was more optimistic, saying money is available but that investors do not know which projects to make investments in. San Francisco Chronicle
(5/6)
- Reports: U.S. firms ready to produce cellulose-based biofuels
U.S. companies are ready to market biofuel made from cellulose to increase production without jeopardizing the country's food output, according to reports from the 2009 BIO International Convention. Nonfood cellulose sources, such as grasses or the inedible stalks and husks from crops, could replace the edible starches and sugars used in most biofuel production. BIO's Brent Erickson suggested a goal of increasing cellulosic biofuel from zero this year to 1 billion gallons by 2013. Financial Times (tiered subscription model)
(5/20)
- U.K. report calls for promoting industrial biotechnology
A British government report estimated that industrial biotechnology could help reduce greenhouse-gas emissions from the EU chemicals sector by 5% by 2020. It recommended the government help by urging more knowledge transparency between researchers and business, implementing policies to generate a market for biotech products and promoting biotech worldwide. The report said a broader use of biotechnology could lower energy costs by 2% across the sector. BusinessGreen
(5/14)
 | FREE REPORT – The Future of Biotech!
This comprehensive report into the future of our industry provides expert advice from some of the best minds in biotechnology. Published by BioWorld Today. Click here now to download your FREE report. |
| Feed the World | | |
|
- Bigger yields can help farmers meet food, biofuel goals
U.S. farmers can grow enough crops to provide affordable food and meet mandates for biofuels without a big increase in acreage, according to industry experts at the 2009 BIO International Convention. That debate stems from the idea that more acres of tropical jungles and savannas will be used for food crops to make up for the acres planted for biofuel, resulting in higher carbon dioxide releases. John Pierce, vice president of technology for DuPont Applied Biosciences, said new technology is expected to increase corn and soybean yields by 40% without adding acreage. Agriculture Online/Successful Farming magazine
(5/19)
- Drought-tolerant corn could help Africa increase food yield
African agriculture is doing a better job of providing food for people, but big problems remain -- including the spread of HIV to the farming population, compounded by a drought, which further keeps farmers from the field, according to Robb Fraley, Monsanto's chief technology officer. In an Atlanta Journal-Constitution guest column, Fraley writes that one solution is Monsanto's new drought-tolerant corn. Research showed that corn created using the technology yields 6% to 10% more grain, by "sipping water rather than gulping" what is available. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (free registration)
(5/19)
- Senator: Biotech crops reduce tractor pollution, pesticide use
Research presented at the 2009 BIO International Convention shows biotech crops are good for the environment and the economy, according to North Dakota state Sen. Terry Wanzek, R-Jamestown. He writes about one finding from the report that shows that in 2007, farmers who planted biotech crops decreased carbon dioxide emissions by 14 billion-plus kilograms because they spent less time on tractors in their fields controlling pests and weeds. He also writes that pesticide use was reduced about 9% between 1996 and 2007 with the planting of biotech crops. AgWeb.com/The Truth blog
(5/21)
| BIO Resources | | |
|
-
Access content from the 2009 BIO International Convention
- Check out BIO's blog updates and listen to podcasts on the convention at www.biotech-now.org.
- See the excitement, highlights and photos of the convention for yourself under Convention insights.
-
Save the date for the 2010 BIO International Convention
The 2010 event will be May 3 to 6 at McCormick Place in Chicago. Interested in attending BIO in the Windy City? It's not too early to begin thinking about exhibiting and planning a panel session.
| | |
Product announcements appearing in SmartBrief are paid advertisements and do not
reflect actual BIO endorsements. The news reported in SmartBrief does not necessarily
reflect the official position of BIO.
|
| Advertise |
|
Account Executive:
Chris Pope 202-737-5500 ext. 295
|
|
|
| |
|
Read more at SmartBrief.com |
|
A powerful Web site for SmartBrief readers including:
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
| | Recent BIO SmartBrief Issues:
- Tuesday, June 02, 2009
- Monday, June 01, 2009
- Friday, May 29, 2009
- Thursday, May 28, 2009
- Wednesday, May 27, 2009
| | | Lead Editor: Ashley McMaster
Mailing Address:
SmartBrief, Inc.®, 1100 H ST NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005 | |
| |
|
| © 1999-2009 SmartBrief, Inc.® Legal Information |
|
