The Iowa Biotechnology Association is preparing for its forum in April. Association executive director Joe Hrdlicka says the event is for leaders and managers in the biotech industry in the state.
“Whether you are involved in business development, human resources, research and development, issues management, we feel like with the content we’ve put together — and particularly with the local and national speakers we have attending — it’s going to be a great presentation for folks to attend,” Hrdlicka says.
Iowa Economic Development Authority Director Debi Durham is scheduled to speak and he says Durham will talk about the recently released Battelle report and the impact on the biotech industry, and they will also be talking about STEM issues. Monsanto’s executive vice president and chief technology officer, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey, and the editor and publisher of the Biofuels Digest are among other speakers who are on the program.
Hrdlicka says the future continues to be bright for the field. “We’ve been able to sustain growth in this industry in Iowa, even through some of the recessionary years that we’ve had more recently,”Hrdlicka says. “That’ss another prime indicator of the strength of the industry in Iowa and its impact.” He says there are some exciting new things ahead too, such as work on a tax credit for renewable biochemical production and the chance to develop a leadership position in the production of biochemicals
“We have the biomass product available here in Iowa. And because of the production facilities we have available, those folks are looking to partner with other innovators to produce biochemicals. It’s really the next frontier,” Hrdlicka says. The event will be held from 7:30 A.M. to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 1st at the FFA Enrichment Center located at the DMACC campus in Ankeny. For more information on registering, go to: www.iowabio.org/pfg.