17 th Annual Conference

1. 17th Annual Conference INNOVATION AND POLICY FOR THE BIOECONOMY Ravello June 18-21, 2013

2. What is the bioeconomy? The European Commission has defined the bioeconomy as consisting of “…. the production of renewable biological resources and the conversion of these resources and waste streams into value added products, such as food, feed, bio-based products and bioenergy.” The White House National Bioeconomy Blueprint in April 2012 says “A bioeconomy is one based on the use of research and innovation in the biological sciences to create economic activity and public benefit.”

3. Innovation in the bioeconomy is seen as an important source of economic growth • Governments around the globe are busy designing policies that are supposed to encouraging innovation with the hope that this is a low budget way to encourage growth • At the same time other policies and regulations are hindering innovation in the bioeconomy • The result is that innovations seems to be slowing down • Second and third generation biofuels seem to be stuck • Agricultural technology? • Gains in yield per ha of some major grain crops leveling off • Area of GM crops increasing, but few new traits have been commercialized – particularly in food crops • Pharmaceuticals – despite extensive use of biotechnology and major investments in research, number of new drugs/year is declining.

4. Questions for the conference • Are innovations really slowing down in the bioeconomy? • How important are innovations in the bioeconomy as a source of growth? • Do governments have the right set of investments in research and policies to encourage innovation? • If not, what policy options are available?

5. This conference is a great opportunity to deal with these questions • Biologists and engineers will help us understand what is happening with innovation to tell us about exciting new technologies • Agricultural biologicals • Luuk van der Wielen on the amazing things that can be done with biomass --- bioconcrete! • Economists, sociologists, philosophers • Joshua Angriest and David Popp - providing us with theories and statistical techniques to improve our analysis • Evaluating past policies • Suggesting new ones • Policy makers and advisors to policy makers will take our results back to their governments and international institutions • Conference ends with a panel on innovation chaired by Terry Raney from FAO who is working on the next FAO SOFA report on Innovation in Agriculture

6. New directions • First preconference workshop for graduate students successfully organized by Sara Savastano • Discussing the possibility of having the meeting in Nairobi focusing on the role of the bioeconomy in food security and economic growth • We would return to Ravello in 2015

7. My Special Thanks • Sara Savastano – Secretary General, ICABR for her tireless work and to CEIS for their financial and in-kind support of this conference • Cabinet --- Sara, Pasquale Scandizzo, Stuart Smyth, Justus Wesseler, David Zilberman • Program committee -- Sara, David Castle, Matty Demont, Anwar Naseem, Stuart Smyth, AnneleenVandeplas, Justus Wesseler • ICABR Board • Suita Carrano - Transport, Accommodations, Conference Center….. • Financial support from you who paid your conference fees and from CEIS, Monsanto, Bayer and others

8. Thanks for support from CEIS at U. of Rome Tor Vergata New Director of CEIS – Dr. Vincenzo Atella AntonellaGibellino - from CEIS – administration Stefania Di Natale – CEIS Francesca Mangierelli – CEIS Maria Teresa Sisinni – graphics for the conference material – Lemon Communications Adriana - PhD student – FAO/U. of Rome, Tor Vergata Federica Afani - PhD student – FAO/U. of Rome, Tor Vergata Carlotta, Giovanni, Andrea, Federica De Vita, Giulia, Alberta, Mart U. of Rome, Tor Vergata

9. This year a special thanks to Bob Evenson who founded this conference and successfully ran it in collaboration with Vittorio Santaniello