AgWired

The first news of the day is the release of a new report by BIO and Batelle. The report is titled, “Growing The Nation’s Biotech Sector: State Bioscience Initiatives 2006.” You can find the executive summary here. The report says that the biosciences now consist of more than 40,000 businesses employing 1.2 million people in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. Some other key findings include:

AgWired coverage of BIO 2006 is made possible by:

This is just the ballroom area of the opening reception. I know it’s hard to see but there’s a guy in a white tux in the center tower who was conducting the 3 sets of musicians on different balcony stages.

After the main course at serving stages all around the room you could go up on the middle stage for dessert.

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The opening reception was all about food and good music. Take the BIO Barbershop (my name for them). These guys were good. They were only one of about six groups performing on different levels and areas of the Navy Pier.

I didn’t find anyone to interview but I’m sure that will change tomorrow. There will be relevant news on food and agriculture. In fact, food and agriculture are highly featured here with over 1,000 square feet of corn on display in the exhibit hall. I will check that out tomorrow.

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I have arrived at BIO 2006 and the first thing to do was check in and scope out the news room layout. Very nicely done. I didn’t even bother to count how many work stations are set up here. It’s first come, first serve so I’ll be here early tomorrow.

This will be home for most of the next several days. You should see the “program.” I’ve seen many telephone books that are smaller. There’s no way to read it in 3 days but it’s well organized. There’s a nice tab for the agenda which I think is most important. Everyone who attends receives a very nice little shoulder pack. And of course it has an iPod holder and hole to poke your headphone cord through.

I’ve requested an interview with a communications director to talk about what it took to put the whole media outreach and press center together for this event. The staff person I spoke with said I was the only reporter they knew who is blogging this event. Interesting.

AgWired coverage of BIO 2006 is made possible by:

Most of Sunday will be a travel day to get to Chicago so the next time your hear from me I’ll be in the windy city. One of the 60+ press releases I’ve received on BIO 2006 is about “what’s new at BIO.” Well for me it will all be new since I’ve never been. I’m guessing that there’s some other newbies in the 18,000 plus expected to show up. But in case you’re a BIO veteran here’s what they say is new.

· Four new topics have been added to the list of breakout sessions: Devices and Diagnostics, Emerging Markets, Marketing, and Regenerative Medicine.

· The exhibit hall at BIO 2006 will be the largest gathering of biotechnology exhibitors in history, including more than 1,600 companies, organizations and institutions representing every aspect of the biotechnology industry. With 176,000 net square feet of exhibit space, the hall is approximately the size of three football fields.

Three football fields. I guess I had better put on my walking shoes. Sounds like I won’t need an extra workout.

AgWired coverage of BIO 2006 is made possible by:

My fellow blogger Paul Conley has a new blog project called Wind Farm News. I’ll let him explain what it’s all about:

Welcome to Wind Farm News, a community that fosters the business of wind farming.

We’ll emphasize news about engineering, marketing, distribution, technology, sales and other areas of interest to the industry. We welcome your comments and your participation.

Please visit and let him know what you think. I know some people think that if I put a turbine on my desk I could probably power my whole neighborhood!