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European Biomass Conference and Exhibition 2013 Press Release
COPENHAGEN: SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, MARKET AND POLITICS UNITE FOR EUROPE’S LARGEST GATHERING OF BIOMASS EXPERTS From the 3rd of June 2013 representatives from research, industry, finance and politics from over 60 nations have been gathering in Copenhagen for the 21st European Biomass Conference and Exhibition. This year the event features 270 plenary and oral presentations, more than 460 visual presentation and 80 exhibitors representing once again one of the most important and stimulating international key platforms in Europe and worldwide for knowledge exchange on the latest scientific and industrial results, developments in policies and deployment in the biomass and bioenergy sector. The political opening of the conference provided a clear reminder of Europe’s target of reaching 20% renewable energy by 2020 and the need to achieve this target in an environmentally sustained way. Denmark, the host country, presented their very ambitious target to become totally fossil-free by 2050 with biomass contributing a large proportion to the fossil-free future. In the fight to limit global warming to +2°C the conference was informed of China’s progressive plans for a large expansion of bioenergy to supply its growing energy needs. With many years experience in biofuels production, Brazil reported its plans to push ahead with environmentally sustainable biofuels and bioenergy projects that will no longer rely on economic support from the government. Bioenergy and biofuels are becoming of age. SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE Whether an energy newcomer or specialist, this annual event is seen by international research, governmental, and business communities as Europe’s leading science-to-science, business-to-business and science-to-industry biomass conference and exhibition. As every year the conference programme touches on all the different subjects of the biomass sector during the week. An important number of oral and poster presentations are focused on how to assess and ensure sustainability along biomass value chains, by means of certification, standardization and enacting correct policies. First and foremost, how do we secure a sufficient supply of energy for the future? Do we have sufficient biomass? Can we find the most efficient ways to use the sustainably produced biomass? How can we most efficiently handle and treat our waste – and in particular the biowaste – so that more is recycled and vital nutrients are returned to the soil? How can we develop technologies where we can use biomaterials in new areas, not least those that today are based on oil? These are just some of the questions being addressed this week in Copenhagen by global investors and decision-makers from research, industry, finance and politics. FURTHER INFORMATION: This conference is supported by: European and international organizations such as the European Commission, UNESCO – United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Natural Sciences Sector, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, DEA Danish Energy Agency, WCRE – the World Council for Renewable Energy, EUBIA – the European Biomass Industry Association, Copenhagen Cleantech Cluster, Danish Bioenergy Industries Association, INBIOM Innovation Network Biomass, City of Copenhagen, Wonderful Copenhagen and other organizations. Free download of high quality photos Press contact: Chiara Benetti, Tel. +39-055-5002174; Email: chiara.benetti@etaflorence.it Continue reading
Sustainable Agriculture — No Silver Bullets, But Maybe Some Silver Buckshot
by Elton Robinson in Farm Press Blog Agriculture’s future challenge is to provide enough food to feed 9 billion people by 2050. Environmental groups are sure to want more rules and regulations, but these rules cannot handcuff agriculture’s freedom to innovate, say experts. Producing enough food to feed 9 billion people by 2050 could be the biggest test sustainable agriculture has ever faced. The difficulty is balancing the preservation of natural resources with the technological development needed to meet these goals. To get it done, David Cleary, director of agriculture for The Nature Conservancy, says there must be collaboration between agriculture and environmentalism. During a panel discussion on sustainability at Monsanto’s Media Days, Cleary clearly understands that, well, we’re all in this together. “It is critical for the health of the world’s food system that the American agricultural system maintains yield and productivity gains over the past 40 years to 50 years,” Cleary said. “It’s also critical for the health of the world’s food system that the United States continues to play its historical role as the biggest center for technological innovation.” On the other hand, Cleary is unapologetic in blaming agriculture for not paying enough attention to the environment in the past. “Historically, yield and productivity gains have been bought at the expense of topsoil. You can extend that to water as well. The science is pretty unambiguous if you’re looking at hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico, or algal blooms in the Great Lakes. There is an agricultural contribution to that. “Looking forward, I think there has to be some kind of grand bargain between agriculture and the environmental side of the equation. There’s a huge amount of devil in the detail. It’s not as though there is a single silver bullet. But there may be some silver buckshot. There are solutions out there that we can deploy.” Rick Tolman, chief executive officer, National Corn Growers Association, cited recent studies indicating that U.S. corn producers have discovered and implemented quite a few nuggets of agricultural sustainability over the last 30 years. “Since 1980, the land that it takes to produce one bushel of corn has declined by 30 percent, the soil loss per bushel has declined by 67 percent, the water used to irrigate a bushel of corn by 53 percent and the energy use to produce a bushel of corn has been reduced by 43 percent. “We have made continued improvement, we still have room to grow and improvement will continue. It’s been a great story of sustainability and it has been done scientifically,” Tolman said. The next 35 years will demand that agriculture continue to shrink its environmental footprint while doubling food production. Environmentalists are sure to want more rules and regulations. Agriculture – the freedom to be innovative. “We need to be very careful that we don’t take away the solutions to the problem,” Tolman said. “Some well-meaning proposals would take away some of the tools that have allowed farmers to intensify agriculture.” Hopefully, the twain shall meet in a reasonable place for everyone. Continue reading
VIASPACE Signs Giant King Grass Contract in Philippines
PRESS RELEASE May 30, 2013, 7:00 a.m. ET VIASPACE Signs Giant King Grass Contract in Philippines WALNUT, Calif., May 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — VIASPACE Inc.— (OTCQB: VSPC) today announced that the company has signed a Giant King™ Grass supply contract with Sagay Central, Inc. of Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines. The initial payment has been received and the VIASPACE agronomist visited the Philippines recently to meet with Sagay. Sagay Central is a sugar milling and sugar growing company in the center of the Philippines sugar industry. It produces 150,000 tons of sugar per year. Sagay Central was founded in 1945 and its products include raw sugar, washed sugar and specialty Muscavado sugar for the domestic market and export. Mr. Romie Cortez, President of Sagay Central, Inc. said: “We are indeed very happy to be working with VIASPACE Inc. on this important biomass renewable energy project. This fits well with our goal of diversifying our sugar operations in order to remain competitive in this very difficult sugar business in the Philippines. We are looking forward to grow the VIASPACE Giant King Grass in our estate for energy production and for export to Korea and Japan.” VIASPACE CEO, Dr. Carl Kukkonen, stated, “Giant King Grass grows very well where sugarcane can be grown. The climate and soil in Negros Occidental are perfect for Giant King Grass. They have good rainfall and irrigation is available. The Philippines is strongly encouraging renewable biomass electricity. We look forward to a long partnership with Sagay Central.” VIASPACE Chairman, Dr. Kevin Schewe, commented: “We are delighted to announce this project and partnership with Sagay Central in the Philippines. Their expertise and experience with growing sugar cane makes them a perfect fit for growing Giant King Grass as a renewable, high-yielding, biomass platform. Although we are currently seen by investors as a penny stock Company, VIASPACE is actively working with many different international companies and continues to diversely expand its global footprint. This is an exciting time of rapid growth and setting the stage for the future of VIASPACE and its shareholders.” About VIASPACE Inc. VIASPACE grows renewable Giant King™ Grass as a low-carbon fuel for clean electricity generation; for environmentally friendly energy pellets; and as a feedstock for bio-methane production and for green cellulosic biofuels, biochemicals and biomaterials. Giant King Grass is a proprietary, high yield, dedicated biomass clean energy crop that does not compete with or displace food production. For more information, please go to www.VIASPACE.com or contact Dr. Jan Vandersande, Director of Communications, at 800-517-8050 or IR@VIASPACE.com. Safe Harbor Statement Information in this news release includes forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Such factors include, without limitation, risks outlined in our periodic filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, and other factors over which VIASPACE has little or no control. SOURCE VIASPACE Inc. /Web site: http://www.VIASPACE.com Continue reading
