International Bioproducts Conference Comes to Guelph
May 16, 2014 - News Release
An international bioproducts conference to be held in Guelph for the first time next week will bring together industry leaders, government officials and researchers in a growing field.
The International Symposium on Bioplastics, Biocomposites and Biorefining (ISBBB) will take place May 19 to 24 at the Delta Guelph Hotel and Conference Centre. Organized by the University of Guelph’s Bioproducts Discovery and Development Centre (BDDC), the conference will attract more than 275 attendees and hundreds of speakers and presenters, making it one of the biggest events in the area of biobased materials and biorefining.
Speakers and guests will come from around the world, including the United States, Europe, Africa, South America and Asia.
Prof. Amar Mohanty, conference chair and director of the BDCC, said worldwide interest in bioproducts reflects their importance in environmental protection and their potential for economic growth.
“Interest in bioproducts and biobased materials continues to expand and gain momentum due to worldwide concerns on environmental sustainability, record-high greenhouse gas emissions and reducing our dependence on non-renewable fossil fuels,” he said.
“These products are becoming viable alternatives to their petroleum counterparts. Thus this year’s theme is ‘Moving Towards a Sustainable Bioeconomy.’”
Mohanty said although many bioproducts are entering the marketplace, there are several challenges for widespread market growth for new bioproducts.
“Bioproducts are the wave of the future, but challenges remain in terms of their market adoption. This conference will bring together international experts to work together to drive innovation and product commercialization,” he said.
Many U of G researchers, including 32 students, will participate in the conference. Mohanty said the event will allow Guelph to showcase its research and innovation in biobased materials and biorefining, while learning about worldwide advances.
“This setting will offer many networking opportunities to encourage collaborations between international colleagues, and local businesses can promote their messages and products to a multinational audience.”
To learn more and to register, visit http://isbbb.org.
For media questions, contact Communications and Public Affairs: Lori Bona Hunt, 519-824-4120, Ext. 53338, lhunt@uoguelph.ca; or Kevin Gonsalves, Ext. 56982, kgonsalves@uoguelph.ca.
