National members of the biotech field are in Ames to attend the Biobased Industry Outlook Conference. The conference, held at the Scheman Building, discussed improving Iowa’s bio-economy.

The conference began Monday morning and ends Tuesday evening. The 357 attendees discussed next-generation and renewable energy sources.

Lee Lynd, engineering professor at Dartmouth College, spoke Monday about the ability of biomass to provide a sustainable world. He stressed the importance of crop rotation and the introduction of new crops.

“We need a different response,” Lynd said about resource productivity. “I believe we could rapidly develop cost-competitive, efficient conversion technology.”

Between sessions, conference participants had the opportunity to view posters and exhibits on display. One of the exhibitors was Sean Reed, senior in chemistry.

Reed, who has been doing undergraduate research for Walter Trahanovsky, professor of chemistry, said he was encouraged by Trahanovsky to attend. Reed has been working on a project that converts biomass like cellulose – such as cotton balls and cotton T-shirts – to a glucoside, which will be converted into glucose. Reed said he thinks there are already processes like this that exist, but he is working to make the process more efficient.

“We’re figuring out how to do it in a more pure way,” Reed said.

Also among the speakers yesterday was U.S. Rep. Tom Latham, R-Iowa.

He spoke about the need to find alternative options to oil and to continue using alternative fuel sources, such as ethanol.

“Today in Iowa, there are 5,000 jobs tied directly to ethanol,” Latham said.

He said he hopes by building Iowa’s alternative oil market, more jobs will be created, keeping more young people from leaving the state.

He listed the five main reasons for building up the biofuel industry: National security, the surplus of agricultural products, environmental concerns, the rising price of oil and rural development.

“Oil was $70 a barrel this morning,” Latham said. “The current price of oil makes us extremely competitive.”

He said he hopes by researching and promoting domestic alternatives, there will be less of a need for foreign oil.

“Iowa has the potential to be the new Middle East,” Latham said. “We are just in the infancy.”

On Tuesday, attendants will have the opportunity to hear from Doug Faulkner, acting assistant secretary for energy efficiency and renewable energy, Stanley Johnson, vice provost for ISU extension and bio-industry representatives and researchers.