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Execs from Solazyme, Sapphire Energy and USDA round out keynote speakers
MINNEAPOLIS – October 14, 2011 – The 2011 Algae Biomass Summit, the official conference of the Algae Biomass Organization (ABO) and the algae industry’s premier event, today announced U.S. Senators Al Franken (D-MN) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) as keynote speakers. Senator Franken will help kickoff the conference on Tuesday, October 25th as he makes the case for the importance of clean energy to the United States. Senator Klobuchar will address the conference via a video lunchtime keynote on Wednesday, October 26th.
The senators join a blue-chip list of industry leaders that have also been added as keynote speakers including Harrison Dillon, President of Solazyme, Inc., a renewable oil and bioproducts company;
Judy Canales, Administrator for Rural Business and Cooperative Programs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development agency; and Cynthia “C.J.” Warner, President of Sapphire Energy, a producer of algae-based biofuels.
“That Senators Klobuchar and Franken both chose to participate in the conference reflects the importance of algae-based fuels and co-products not only for the state of Minnesota, but also the rest of the country,” said Mary Rosenthal, Executive Director of ABO. “They, and our other keynote speakers who are on the front lines of the rapidly expanding algae industry, understand the huge potential of the industry to create jobs and reduce our dependence on imported fossil fuels.”
The 5th annual Algae Biomass Summit, the largest conference of algae producers, scientists, investors and policymakers will feature presentations and poster sessions from more than 200 experts from around the world, with exhibits by more than 60 companies and organizations. The event is expected to attract more than 800 participants, with 20 countries already represented among the registrants to date.
The full conference agenda, including a list of current panel speakers, is available via:https://algaebiomass.org/events/.
Harrison Dillon, keynote speaker on Tuesday, October 25th, is President of Solazyme (http://www.solazyme.com), a renewable oil and bioproducts company that utilizes industrial fermentation to convert low-cost plant sugars into high-value tailored oils.
Judy Canales, also keynoting on Tuesday, is Administrator for Rural Business and Cooperative Programs at USDA’s Rural Development agency (http://www.rurdev.usda.gov), where she leads efforts to increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for rural residents.
Cynthia “C.J.” Warner, speaking on Wednesday, October 26th, is President of Sapphire Energy (http://www.sapphireenergy.com), a San Diego-based company that has already produced drop-in replacement fuels such as gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel out of algae.
About the ABO
The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the development of viable commercial markets for renewable and sustainable commodities derived from algae. Its membership is comprised of people, companies and organizations across the value chain. More information about ABO, including its leadership, membership, costs, benefits and members and their affiliations, is available at the website:www.algaebiomass.org.
Media Contact:
John Williams, Scoville PR for ABO
206-625-0075 x1, jwilliams@scovillepr.com
