Sierrans: This editorial appeared yesterday in the Des Moines Register. I thought it might be of interest, and likely controversial and thought-provoking, to many of us. Lyle Krewson Editorials Iowa View: Till, Rather than drill, for raw materials By GEORG ANDERL 10/07/2003 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ In 1994, a publication on biomass energy distributed by the U.S. Department of Energy highlighted an Iowa agricultural community that revitalized its markets by diversifying into energy crops. The DOE received inquiries from people across the nation and abroad who wished to visit this biomass success story in Iowa. But this community existed only on paper. It was created to illustrate what might be achieved if bioenergy were incorporated into the rural economy. But the vision was compelling to many people concerned about the future of agriculture. Since then, the vision has become broader than bioenergy. A large portion of imported petroleum is converted into products such as plastics, synthetic fabrics and industrial chemicals. Research shows that comparable or better products can be manufactured from biorenewable resources - crops and crop residues grown by Iowa farmers. Many manufacturers in Iowa do produce "biobased products" as diverse as ethanol, enzymes, biodiesel, lubricants, composite materials and industrial sorbents. Two years ago Gov. Tom Vilsack signed a memorandum of understanding between Iowa and the DOE to chart a course for expanding biorenewable resources for the production of chemicals, fuels, energy and materials in Iowa. The resulting Vision and Roadmap for Biobased Products was endorsed by Vilsack this summer. The hard part remains: transforming vision into reality. We are making progress. Iowa State University President Gregory Geoffroy launched a research initiative in biobased products, and the faculty recently approved a graduate program in Biorenewable Resources and Technology. Industry leaders this summer founded the BIOWA Development Association TM. BIOWAšs goals are: develop at least 10 regional biorefineries in Iowa by 2020; build at least five new biobusinesses, or major expansions of existing biobusinesses, each year beginning in 2005; employment and investment opportunities for Iowans in biorefineries and biobased. The Institute for Decision Making at the University of Northern Iowa suggests this vision would result in 22,000 new jobs, economic expansion of $11.6 billion per year, and $367 million additional tax receipts every year. Developing technology will allow us to use plants as the raw materials for production. We will be able to till rather than drill for raw materials. Many people think bioeconomy is synonymous with biotechnology. In fact, biotechnology is only one of the tools used to transform biorenewable resources into biobased products. Expanding Iowašs emerging bioeconomy will require a partnership among industry, state and local governments, colleges and universities. This effort will lead to "biorefineries" - highly integrated processing plants that yield products from biorenewable resources. These are expected to reduce costs and allow biobased products to compete effectively with petroleum-based products. Although these developments are promising, other states are not standing still. Minnesota announced a $20 million initiative to develop biomass and other renewable sources into various products. Through the Iowa Values Fund, the state has an opportunity to assure its leadership in developing a bioeconomy for the United States. The window of opportunity, however, may be a short one. GEORG ANDERL is the president of BIOWA and plant manager of the Genencor International manufacturing plant in Cedar Rapids. More information is available at www.BIOWA.us ___________________________________________________ Lyle R. Krewson Sierra Club Conservation Organizer 6403 Aurora Avenue #3 Des Moines, IA 50322-2862 515/276-8947 515/238-7113 - cel [log in to unmask] [log in to unmask] ___________________________________________________ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Make your voice heard! Find out how to get Take Action Alerts and other important Sierra Club messages by email at: http://www.sierraclub.org/email