Displaying items by tag: forestry

USDA’s new methods for measuring changes in greenhouse gas emissions from farming and forestry can help industrial biotech companies establish the environmental benefits of building the bioeconomy. The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) today welcomed USDA’s release of the report Quantifying Greenhouse Gas Fluxes in Agriculture and Forestry: Methods for Entity-Scale Inventory, which outlines science-based methods for quantifying changes in carbon emissions and storage at the local farm and forest operation and can help farmers and forest landowners participate in emerging carbon markets.

“This science-based methodology sets a transparent standard for measuring one important indicator of sustainability – greenhouse gas emissions – in biomass production. As we move toward biobased production, we can look to this and other indicators of industrial biotechnology’s contribution to a cleaner, healthier environment and sustainable economic growth.”

Brent Erickson, executive vice president of BIO’s Industrial & Environmental Section, said, “American farmers and forest owners can sustainably produce more than 1.1 billion tons of biomass annually, providing raw material for building the bioeconomy. As a groundbreaker in developing industrial biotechnology, the United States can become a leader in manufacturing renewable chemicals and biobased products, opening new opportunities for economic growth and high-tech jobs.

“This science-based methodology sets a transparent standard for measuring one important indicator of sustainability – greenhouse gas emissions – in biomass production. As we move toward biobased production, we can look to this and other indicators of industrial biotechnology’s contribution to a cleaner, healthier environment and sustainable economic growth.”

About BIO

BIO is the world's largest trade association representing 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. BIOtechNOW is BIO's blog chronicling “innovations transforming our world” and the BIO Newsletter is the organization’s bi-weekly email newsletter.” Subscribe to the BIO Newsletter.

Upcoming BIO Events

BIO Latin America Conference
September 9-11, 2014
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Livestock Biotech Summit
September 16-18, 2014
Sioux Falls, SD

Pacific Rim Summit
December 7-9, 2014
San Diego, CA

Biotechnology Industry Organization
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Web: www.bio.org