Contacts: Julie Christensen, U of M Extension, (612) 626-4077, reuve007@umn.edu
Ryan Mathre, University News Service, (612) 625-0552, mathre@umn.edu

U of M hosts Bioeconomy Conference

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL (11/09/2009) – Bringing together players from Minnesota’s bioeconomy to explore renewable energy opportunities will be the focus of a conference titled, “Growing the Bioeconomy: Solutions for Sustainability,” Dec. 2 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the University of Minnesota Continuing Education Conference Center, 1890 Buford Avenue, St. Paul. The conference is co-hosted by University of Minnesota Extension and the University of Minnesota Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment.

Agricultural producers, landowners, community and business leaders, and citizens interested in economic development and biorenewables are encouraged to attend and identify ways they can participate in agriculturally- and forest-based solutions to the global climate change and energy supply issues facing Minnesota.

“Our goal is to help Minnesotans interested in renewable energy share information and make the necessary connections so these businesses can succeed,” said Greg Cuomo, Extension Associate Dean for Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences.

The conference will feature speakers on topics such as feedstocks, conversion technologies, anaerobic digestion and biomass utilization. Successful examples from Minnesota businesses and communities, including the White Earth Reservation, will also be shared, as well as information on community district heating with wood and future technologies worth watching.

Speakers include faculty and staff from the university’s College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences and the Institute of Technology, as well as businesses, government agencies and nonprofit organizations.

Registration is $50 for the Dec. 2 part of the program. For details and registration, visit www.extension.umn.edu/biorenewables.

Note: A separate portion of the program runs Dec. 1 from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and will be broadcast live to host universities throughout the Midwest, including the U of M. The Dec. 1 part of the program features cutting-edge researchers in biofuels, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack and U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu. An in-person panel discussion will also take place in St. Paul on Dec. 1. Registration cost is $50 each day or $85 for both days. Participants may also view the Dec. 1 broadcast from a personal computer for $50.

NOTE: News releases were current as of the date of issue. If you have a question on older releases, use the news release search (upper left-hand column of the News main page) or the main Extension search (upper right of this page) to locate more recent information.

Agriculture \ Community \ Environment \ Family \ Garden \ Youth
Home \ Search \ News \ Workshops \ Online Shopping
About Extension \ Extension Offices

URL: http:// www.extension.umn.edu/extensionnews/2009/bioecon-conf-Dec.html This page was updated Mar. 8, 2010 .
Online Privacy Statement. Contact Information.