Then and Now: 120 Bioeconomy Pioneers look at yesterday, today, inspirations and challenges

Mark Randall

Then: I was not working in the renewable space.  The economy had not yet tanked and the goal of helping the environment while creating jobs had not hit the radar screen.

Now: ”Today – we were a finalist in AkzoNobel’s search for green chemistry and are working on a number of action items to get a Joint Development Agreement underway with them.  We are still waiting on funding from SDGE & Sempra to commence a demonstration of our emissions capture bioreactor system at one of their power plants.

Inspirations: In our human consumption business line we are working on FDA approval of one of our strains and are growing another strain that has already received approval that we are ramping up for sale and distribution.” New industry, new opportunities, new jobs, new economy that adds up to a better more sustainable world. Little government support.  Challenges:  Using the power and strength of the US government can make things happen better and faster.  Unfortunately there is near zero support even though the problems have not lessened.