Feb 2 2007
Speaking yesterday before the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, DuPont Vice President of Bio-Based Technology John Pierce provided an overview of the company's strategy to accelerate biofuels production.
John was part of a briefing on emerging biofuels. He reviewed current global biofuels issues, the future of cellulosic ethanol and next generation biofuels as replacements for gasoline transportation fuels.
"The biofuels market is ripe for innovation and commercialization," John said. "DuPont's integration of modern biological tools into our world-renowned chemistry and engineering has positioned us as technology leaders in the development of bio-based chemicals and now fuels. President Bush visited our laboratories last week and received a tour of our three-part strategy to deliver new technologies to help biofuels become more competitive with petroleum."
"Our strategy is simple and consistent with the mega trends we are seeing globally," John said. "We are making new chemicals, such as Bio-PDO™, and new fuels, such as biobutanol, from agricultural crops. And we are simultaneously developing new ways to convert abundant plant cellulose fibers to biofuels so that even larger volumes of these valuable materials can be produced. Our strategy is designed to deliver the science needed to begin to transform global economies so we are less reliant on oil by enabling the adoption of efficient, high-performance, bio-based technologies."
DuPont's three-part strategy entails: (1) improving existing ethanol production through differentiated agricultural seed products and crop protection chemicals; (2) developing and supplying new technologies to allow conversion of cellulose to biofuels; and (3) developing and supplying next generation biofuels with improved performance."