At the Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference (ABLC) in Washington D.C., the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) once again sponsored and facilitated the Corn-to-Chemicals Summit, outlining the uses of corn as an industrial feedstock.
The panel was moderated by Sarah McKay, NCGA Market Development Director, and participants included Nick Lepore, Morning Consult Senior Research Manager, and Denny Vennekotter, Vice Chair of Market Development Action Team (MDAT) and Ohio corn grower. The panel highlighted the survey results from the MDAT commissioned study on public perception of industrial biotechnology and support for a national incentive for biobased products. Vennekotter also shared his perspective on the value and sustainability of corn as an industrial feedstock and how utilizing corn addresses key areas of importance for the public as it relates to industrial biotechnology. Further, the panel had a robust Q&A session with the audience on programs and policies, including the national incentive for biobased materials that NCGA and BIO are currently working towards.
“U.S. corn farmers continue to produce an affordable, high-quality and reliable crop each year,” said Vennekotter. “That crop can be turned into more than just food, feed and fuel. The corn kernel can be utilized in so many ways, which is why we focus on new uses and corn as an industrial feedstock.”
NCGA continues work in the new uses and industrial feedstock space through the Consider Corn Challenge and will be launching a fourth Consider Corn Challenge on April 14th! NCGA also works to accelerate new uses through a partnership with DigestData, continued conversations with government agencies like the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO), and expanded focus on a potential national incentive program. Learn more about NCGA’s additional new uses programs and efforts at ncga.com/newuses.
Want to learn more about opportunities for corn as an industrial feedstock? Check out The Path for Corn as an Industrial Feedstock.