Senator Harkin Hosts
Biobased Products Showcase  

The Economic, Environmental, Public Health and
Energy Security Benefits of Biobased Products  

The showcase was held on June 7, 2005 in the Dirksen Senate office Building.  The Environmental and Energy Study Institute, the American Farm Bureau Federation, American Soybean Association, National Com Growers Association and the National Farmers Union sponsored a panel discussion and luncheon presenting a variety of available biobased product technologies for all Members of Congress and Senior Ag/Environment Staff, which was hosted by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA).  Biobased product vendors from across he country were on-hand to present their products and answer questions.

The goal of this event was to provide more information about biobased products and discuss how they can help the country better achieve its economic development, sustainability, and security goals.  

Senator Harkin, a long-time advocate for biobased products and author of the Section 9002 program,  inspired the crowd of staff, stakeholders, and biobased product vendors present.  “Everybody wins from the use of biobased products,” said Harkin. “We improve the environment through use of non-toxic renewable materials. Our national security is enhanced by reducing our need for foreign oil. And our American economy and jobs get a boost by using byproducts of home-grown crops.” 

As petroleum prices remain high, and U.S. dependence on foreign supplies of oil nad natural gas increases --alternative and more sustainable sources of not only energy, but finished products, are attracting more attention. Industrial biobased products, those made from renewable, domestic agricultural materials, are little known but vitally important. Products such as soy lubricants, corn-based plastics, and building materials-- made in part from feedstocks such as wheat straw are all available in the marketplace right now and can substantially reduce our reliance on products derived from traditional feedstocks, namely petroleum. Section 9002 of the 2002 Farm Bill recognizes the importance of biobased products by requiring all federal agencies to give a purchasing preference to biobased products identified by USDA as long as they meet price, performance and availability criteria.  The agenda of the showcase is described below: 

12:00 - 12:15 pm: Remarks by U.S. Senator Tom Harkin
introduction by Dr. Stanley Johnson, Iowa State University

12:15 - 12:45 pm: Panel Discussion on the Future of Bio-based Products;
Dr. Phyllis Johnson, Director, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC), USDA
Dave Nelson, farmer, Iowa Com Growers Association
Moderator: Dr. Stanley Johnson, Iowa State University
 

 Biobased product vendors present are listed below:  

	Agriboard Industries (Electra, Texas )	Environmentally engineered panelized building systems utilizing rice and wheat straw.	http://www.agriboard.com
	Biodegradable Food Service, LLC ( Bend , Oregon )	Food service packaging	http://bdfs.net/
	BIOgroupUSA, Inc. (Palm Harbor, Florida)	sales partner for BioBag branded bags and films	www.biogroupusa.com
	Cargill ( Minneapolis , Minnesota )	Industrial lubricants, PLA plastics for packaging, and PLA fibers for clothing, carpet face and furnishings	http://www.cargill.com/
	DuPont ( Wilmington , Delaware )	Sorona polymer for fabrics with biobased content	www.dupont.com
	Dynamold Solvents, Inc. ( Fort Worth , Texas )	Biobased solvent for industrial cleaning	http://www.dynamold.com/
	Earth Shell Corporation ( Santa Barbara , California )	Food service ware and packaging	http://www.earthshell.com/
	Environmental Lubricants Manufacturing, Inc. ( Plainfield , Iowa )	University of Northern Iowa 's (UNI) Ag-Based Industrial Lubricants (ABIL) Research Program	http://www.abiluni.org/index.htm
	GEMTEK ( Phoenix , Arizona )	Janitorial and Industrial Cleaners and Lubricants	http://www.gemtek.com/
	Indiana Soybean Growers Association ( Indianapolis , Indiana )	Soy candles	http://indianasoybeans.com
	Iowa State University ( Ames , Iowa )	Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS) at Iowa State University	http://www.ciras.iastate.edu
	Metabolix ( Cambridge , Massachusetts )	Natural PHA polymers from corn sugar into a versatile range of biodegradable and compostable plastics	http://www.metabolix.com/
	Mohawk ( Calhoun , Georgia )	Carpet with biobased backing	www.mohawkcarpet.com
	National Soy Ink Information Center ( Urbandale , Iowa )	Soy Ink	http://www.soyink.com/
	Renewable Lubricants, Inc. ( Hartville , Ohio ) Jacqueline Garmier	Lubricants	http://www.renewablelube.com/
	Shaw/-Patcraft and Designweave ( Dalton , Georgia )	Carpet with biobased backing	http://www.designweave.com/
	Terresolve Technologies, Ltd. ( Eastlake , Ohio )	Lubricants	http://www.terresolve.com/special.html
	Universal Textile Technologies ( Dalton , Georgia )	Biobased carpet backing and carpet cushion	www.universal-textile.net
	Urethane Soy Systems ( Volga , South Dakota )	Spray Foam Insulation, Truck Bed Liners and Flexible Foam	http://www.soyoyl.com/home/home.asp
	West Central Soy ( Ralston , Iowa )	Industrial Cleaners and Lubricants	http://www.west-central.com/
	GREEN LINE Environmental Products ( Washington , DC )	Distributor of biobased hand sanitizer, cleaner, food service ware, and wastewater treatment	http://www.glepro.com/pages/541764/index.htm
	American Lung Association, DC Chapter ( Washington , DC )	Biodiesel Advocates	http://www.aladc.org/