Chad Holliday with the GWCarver award and Mark Wright of Iowa State, the recipient of the Carver scholarship

The George Washington Carver Award was created in honor of George Washington Carver, who attended Iowa State University, and honors individuals in the private industry, government or academia who have made a significant contribution to the economic and innovative growth of the biotech industry. In addition, the efforts of the individual must focus on environmentally sustainable processes – more critical now than ever.

“Many of the technologies here today will help us address climate change,” said Holliday. He noted that while this is not the only issue facing the world today, it was one of the most critical and is confident that biotech companies, through innovation, will help to alleviate the issue.

Brent Erickson, executive vice president of BIO’s Industrial & Environmental Section, said, “BIO is pleased to recognize the contributions to the field of industrial biotechnology and outstanding accomplishments of DuPont Chairman Chad Holliday.”

Erickson continued, “George Washington Carver is considered one of the founding fathers of modern industrial biotechnology. Following his legacy, industrial biotechnology companies today are developing new methods to use renewable agricultural resources to manufacture fuels, plastics, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and food ingredients. The field has developed in ways that Carver may never have imagined, but the work of industrial biotech companies remains true to the goal of a sustainable agricultural economy that includes production of useful everyday products.”

Holliday noted that he was “deeply honored” to recieve the award that recognizes and promotes the work toward the goal of developing new, sustainable products and technologies to help make peoples’ lives around the world more secure.

Accompanying the award is a George Washington Carver scholarship given in the name of Charles O. Holliday, Jr., to Iowa State University graduate student Mark Wright, currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering and Biorenewable Resources and Technology. The award is sponsored by DSM, the Iowa Biotechnology Association and the Iowa Department of Economic Development.

“We’re going to have to produce more food on the same acres between now and 2050 then we’ve produced in the last 10,000 years combined,” Michael said. “That’s pretty substantial. That’s going to get us to twice the level of annual food production in 2050 versus today.”

Michael says responding to such demands is a responsibility that must be shared throughout the ag sector. But, he says, Monsanto is eagerly doing it’s part to help.

“This conversation about sustainability kind of hit us right between the eyes,” Michael said. “We went out and started talking to a lot of people about agriculture; and what doing more with less would look like; what would be important there.”

Ultimately, Michael says, Monsanto’s goal is to make farmers more productive and, consequently, more financially successful.

“Our goal is to make every farmer we serve better off the next year than they were the previous year,” Michael said.

And, Michael says, that goal is meant to benefit farmers all over the world.

“In developing countries we think we also need to do that,” Michael said. “So, we’ve committed to helping 5 million resource-poor farmers, who are simply trying to feed their families, do that.”

But, as much as Monsanto recognizes its role in securing the future of farming and the future of feeding the world, the Michael says finding long-term, sustainable solutions will be a team effort.

“It’s going to be the ‘we’ collectively that does this,” Michael said.

You can download and listen to Michael Doane’s entire speech at the 2008 Farm Progress Show in Boone, IA here: Download audio file (fp-08-doane.mp3)

You can also download the speech with this link.

Check out our Farm Progress Show 2008 Photo Album.

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Michael and Joe also delved into energy issues, renewable fuels and where all that fits in with public policy. Joe says the National Biodiesel Board is aiming to have biodiesel replace five percent of the national supply of diesel fuel. He says that is equivalent to the amount of diesel the U.S. if refining and importing from in Iraq. In other words, he says the National Biodiesel Board is aiming to replace the diesel fuel we get from Iraq.

Some critics arguing against renewable fuels point out that the alternative fuel sources will never fully replace the need for oil. But, Joe says that’s not the point, “That’s like saying if you can’t do everything than you shouldn’t do anything.” Joe says The National Biodiesel Board simply doesn’t share that frame of thought. That’s why it has launched the BioTrucker Fuel Card. The card offers card holders cash price on all biodiesel fuel at 5,000 participating locations and special discounts at select truck stops all without any transaction fees. Those interested can sign up for the card at BioTrucker.com.

Both Michael and Joe lauded the farmers that make up the nation’s ag industry. Joe says agriculture is a powerful industry that fosters cutting-edge, technological innovation. “Ag is slow to move but powerful to respond,” Joe said.

You can listen to the entire broadcast of the Dave New Show with Michael and Joe here:
Download audio file (cma-08-xm.mp3)

I also got some videos of Michael and Joe while they were singing and strumming their guitars. You can watch the videos here:

2008 CMA Music Festival Photo Album

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Biotechnology leaders from around the globe will be descending upon San Diego, one of the leading biotech hubs in the world, to discuss the most pressing issues and share their unique perspectives. In addition, there will be a total of 36 regional and country pavilions within the BIO Exhibition with several new pavilions, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Dubai, and South Africa.

This year�s keynote speakers include Gen. Colin Powell, J. Craig Venter, Ph.D., and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Registration for attendees is offered at an early-bird discounted rate of nearly 40 percent off the regular rate until May 8, 2008 at www.bio2008.org/registration.

As part of his coming in-person appearances, Blume will be a featured guest on the Thom Hartmann Radio Program. Now in its fifth year of national syndication and heard globally on XM and Sirius satellite radio, Hartmann’s program is carried in 7 of the nation’s top 10 media markets and 14 of the top 25 markets. Hartmann is also a featured commentator in the new Leonardo DiCaprio environmental documentary The 11th Hour.

Hartmann calls Blume’s work “brilliant!” and his soon to be released book “Alcohol Can Be A Gas,” “a must read for every American.” Blume has spent years battling with big oil interests and has dedicated his life to providing a practical and truly renewable solution to the world’s quest for inexpensive, non-polluting and sustainable energy and food sources.

Blume was recently a featured speaker at the Mid-West Renewable Energy Fair in Wisconsin, and SolFest in Hopland, CA. His coming appearances include a featured guest appearance on Thom Hartmann’s Air America Program in October, Santa Cruz Community TV’s EcoReview September 25, speaking at Portland State University October 6, at the Peak Oil sponsored forum in Salem, OR, October 7, at the Retzer Nature Center near Milwaukee, WI, on Oct. 20, at the University of Illinois Chicago campus on Oct. 27 and at the Green Careers Conference at U.C. Berkeley on Nov 17.

I’m not sure who it is that sent me this but the keynote speaker at BIO 2007 today was Michael J. Fox. You can watch a short video clip of his speech on YouTube.

So it looks like new media reporting has hit the biotech arena in a big way. I remember being told by the BIO staff last year that I was the only blogger on site. I guess times have changed.

They have a blog now. Can you imagine an organization like BIO having a blog? Last year at their convention I was basically the only person there blogging it. Now they have their own.

Oh, and here’s another interesting thing they’re doing. An online Flickr photo album and they’re encouraging others to upload their photos and tag them with BIO2007. What a great idea. If you can’t be there then how about a photo? Why not let your members or customers see what you’re doing? Depend on someone else to do it for you? Never!

You can listen to my interview with Jim here: Jim Pallister Interview (3 min MP3)

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Not too bad for a couple days work, eh?

In my interview with them you’ll hear what people in Africa think about biotech and what they want American farmers to know about them and their country. You might be interested to know for example, that there is no market system there as we know it here.

You can listen to my interview with them here: South Africa Biotech Interview (13 min MP3)

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