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| Iowa corn
grower Dave Nelson (left) represented NCGA in a panel discussion
at the Biobased Products Showcase in Washington Tuesday. Exhibitors,
including Scott Swanson (center) of the Midwest Grain Processors
were on hand with many office, home and industrial products
made from domestically produced, environmentally friendly agricultural
materials. NCGA officers, including First Vice President Gerald
Tumbleson (right) attended the event. |
NCGA-sponsored Biobased Products Event Showcases Agriculture-based
Products (6-8-06)
Biobased products
made from renewable agriculture materials were in the spotlight
on Capitol Hill Tuesday at the Biobased Products Showcase. The event,
co-sponsored by the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), illustrated
the use of biobased products as a replacement for conventional products
derived from petroleum.
Iowa Sen. Tom
Harkin hosted the event that included a panel discussion on the
benefits of biobased products and product exhibits. Iowa corn grower
Dave Nelson represented NCGA on a panel discussion with Dr. Phyllis
Johnson, director of the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center,
on the benefits of biobased products.
Exhibitors displayed
biobased products such as soy-based ink, carpet and plastics made
of corn, building panels made of wheat and rice and cleaning solutions
made from soybean plants, among others.
“Holding
these kinds of events will educate congressional leaders and their
staffs, along with the consumer that there is a bio-and ag-friendly
option for day-to-day products that are petroleum based,”
said Nelson. “NCGA, along with the Iowa Corn Growers Association
and other state corn associations have been longtime proponents
of furthering the uses of corn. These products and the biobased
procurement program led by the U.S. Department of Agriculture will
encourage more manufacturers to participate in using, developing
and marketing biobased products.”
Nelson said
ethanol’s positive net energy balance is a great bioproducts
success story. “At our [ethanol] plant in Iowa for every 100
British Thermal Units (btu) used in planting, growing, processing
and delivering fuel, we have a gain of 160 btus. It just keeps getting
better as technology improves in raising corn and processing it.”
He also noted
that as farmers achieve greater yields from every acre planted,
the future of biobased products derived from plant material will
grow as well.
Harkin, a long-time
leader in promoting renewable sources of energy, such as ethanol,
biodiesel and wind power, told the audience he plans to introduce
legislation that focuses on biobased products and emphasized that
the federal government should take the lead in buying and using
items made from crop materials.
“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.”
In addition to NCGA, event sponsors included the American Farm Bureau
Federation, American Soybean Association, Environmental and Energy
Study Institute and the National Farmers Union. The event featured
new products and technologies from vendors around the country.
A comprehensive,
searchable database of biobased products can be found on NCGA’s
web site by clicking here.