Symposiums

Special Events Announcement

We are pleased to announce our symposium special events which will be held on Sunday, November 6, at the 2022 AFCC Global Biobased Economy Conference & Exhibit.

The symposiums will be followed by USDA Leadership Briefing. More information on round table speakers will be presented later this fall.

Symposium: Progress Towards a U.S. Carbon Intensity Label

(1:30 PM to 3:30 PM ET) Riverview 1

Moderator: Professor Jay Golden, Pontarelli Professor of Environmental Sustainability and Finance, Director, Dynamic Sustainability Lab, Syracuse University

Speakers:

Julie Bushell

President

Paige Wireless

Charlie Sidoti

Executive Director

InnSure

Samir Somaiya

Chairman and Managing Director, Godavari Biorefineries Limited

Paul Zorner

Chairman

AFCC Governing Board of Directors

Jeff Possick

Managing Director

Goldman Sachs

David Kolsrud

Farmer / Developer

American Coalition for Ethanol

Around the globe there is a rapid transition to a net-zero carbon economy and companies encompassing almost every sector of the economy are committing to climate-smart commodities spanning from agricultural feedstocks to final consumer products.

One of the keys to being able to account for scope 3 carbon emissions and for tracking lower carbon commodities is the development of a consumer facing U.S. Carbon Label that would be applicable to all biobased product categories. In this session we will 1) present the findings of recent results from a joint AFCC-Dynamic Sustainability Lab project including drivers, hurdles and progress being made to date for developing and implementing a US Carbon Label likely overseen by the USDA and 2) engage with panel members representing several segments of US and International markets, services and legislative bodies on the economic and environmental impact of this label.

Symposium: The Importance of Standards for Synthetic Biology and Industrial Biotechnology

(1:30 PM to 3:30 PM ET) Riverview 2

Moderator: Joseph McAuliffe, Senior Principal Scientist, IFF

Speakers:

Steve Evans

Senior Technical Fellow

BioMADE

Andrea Hodgson

Program Scientist

Schmidt Futures

Marilene Pavan

Manager, HTP Synthetic Biology

LanzaTech

Vijay Srinivasan

Division Chief of the Systems Integration Division (SID), Engineering Laboratory (EL)

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

Please join us for a roundtable symposium focused on the topic of standards development for Synthetic Biology and Industrial Biotechnology and the strategic importance of such efforts in biobased manufacturing. The session will include several short presentations plus a panel discussion on the increasing need for standardization in precision fermentation, with a focus on how to best enable the industry while addressing the needs and concerns of the public, manufacturers, regulators and other key stakeholders. Examples of existing standards and opportunities for additional standards will be highlighted, in addition to a general discussion on how standardization can play a role in the responsible deployment of emerging biotechnologies and maximize overall benefit to the society and environment.

Sponsors: AFCC and ASTM Technical Committee E62 for Synthetic Biology & Industrial Biotechnology

Symposium: Hydrogen Hubs: Building a Consumer Base and Enabling Adoption

(1:30 PM to 3:30 PM ET) Riverview 4

Moderator: Dora Cheatham, CEO, Executive Director, Delaware Sustainable Chemistry Alliance

Speakers:

Brandon Farris

Head of Federal Government Affairs

The Chemours Company

Michael Maitland

Government Affairs Advisor

McCarter & English, LLP

Richard Moore

Vice President

Connected DMV

Erica Nemser

CEO

Compact Membrane Systems

George Sullivan

Director of Federal Contracts

Bloom Energy

Does your organization want to accelerate its decarbonization and clean energy adoption strategy? As the discussion around hydrogen and decarbonization intensifies, and regional hub strategies begin to emerge, teams are assessing technologies, feedstocks, transportation and infrastructure. The end user is an equally important part of the equation Whether end users are in heavy manufacturing, transportation or heat and power, the pathway to decarbonization and hydrogen energy adoption can vary but is eminently attainable. The passing of the Inflation Reduction Act 2022 will make this even more so. Join us as we discuss pathways to decarbonization and hydrogen adoption.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Leadership Presentations

(3:30 to 5:00 PM) Riverview 5

3:30pm - Introductory Remarks, Master of Ceremony - Douglas Faulkner, President and Founder Leatherstocking, LLC
3:35pm - Rural Development Initiatives - Dr. Karama Neal, Administrator, USDA Rural Business - Cooperative Service
3:55pm - USDA Climate Change Strategy - Tony Radich, Agricultural Economist, USDA Office of The Chief Economist (OCE)
4:15pm – Opportunities for U.S. Agriculture to Support U.S. Foreign Policy Globally – Jeanne Bailey, Deputy Administrator, USDA Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS)
4:35pm - Institute of Bioenergy, Climate, and Environment - Kevin Kephart, Deputy Director, USDA The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA); Toby Ahrens, National Program Leader, Agricultural Bioproducts, USDA, NIFA
4:55pm - Adjourn - Douglas Faulkner, President and Founder Leatherstocking, LLC
5:00pm - Welcome Reception – Lower Atrium Eastern Shore 2