29/12/06 (Biotechnology Industry Organization) WASHINGTON -- The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, and the state of Hawaii will host a Japanese Bio Mission at the Pacific Rim Summit on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy in Honolulu Jan. 11-13, 2006. BIO is sponsoring the conference in conjunction with the state of Hawaii, the University of Hawaii, the Hawaii Life Sciences Council (HLSC), Enterprise Honolulu, and the Oceanic Institute.

"The purpose of the conference is to highlight the emerging field of industrial biotechnology, which is being used to convert agricultural wastes to renewable energy and to make many types of manufacturing processes more environmentally sustainable," said Brent Erickson, executive vice president of BIO's Industrial & Environmental Section. "BIO sees regional biobased economies emerging in various states of complexity and development. The trend is clear that industrial biotech is growing in importance in the Pacific Rim countries."

The trade mission will be made up of 13 individuals from Japanese biotech and energy companies, universities, newspapers, and embassy officials, all seeking opportunities to do business with U.S. producers of biobased goods and materials. Japan and other Pacific Rim nations are increasingly looking for sustainable sources of energy, and cleaner, more efficient methods of industrial production, including new ways to make pharmaceuticals and other chemicals. Biotech applications that can enable industrial processes to use agricultural instead of petrochemical feedstocks are growing in importance in the Pacific Rim countries.

Participants in the Japanese BIO Mission include the Committee for Energy Policy Promotion, RIKEN Plant Science Center, Bio Matrix Research Inc., Kona Stones Inc., and Osaka University.

BIO represents more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and 31 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products.

SOURCE Biotechnology Industry Organization

CONTACT: Deb Carstoiu of Biotechnology Industry Organization, +1-202-962-9200