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May 3, 2011
· Cost is limiting factor for bio-based products
· Vending machines offering healthier options
· Scorpion venom a plant health food – study
· Palin decries ag water restrictions in Calif.
· Far out man, celebrate hemp history week
Cost is limiting factor for bio-based products
(Wire Services) LOS ANGELES, CA – Industrial biotechnology
can turn plants into plastics, chemicals and other products that are usually
made with petroleum. Although industrial biotech is environmentally friendly
and could play a significant role in helping to wean the
A new report from the Milken Institute, "Turning Plants
Into Products: Delivering on the Potential of
Industrial Biotechnology," released today at the Global Conference,
examines the challenges facing the industrial biotechnology sector and
identifies market- and policy-based responses. The report captures the results
of the Institute's Financial Innovations Lab™ in which stakeholders and experts
in the field discussed how the
"There is much appeal for policymakers to invest in
expanding the biotech-derived chemical industry. In the long term, it has
environmental advantages and offers an alternative to foreign oil," said
Joel Kurtzman, executive director of the
Unlike industrial biotechnology, the petrochemicals industry is well-established, with fully amortized facilities, economies of scale, and entrenched processes for operating efficiently. Further contributing to biotechnology's price disadvantage is that petroleum prices don't take into account increased defense spending to secure petroleum shipping lines, potential climate change effects, disturbances from unfriendly oil-producing countries, and imbalance of international trade. Using domestic biomass feedstocks largely avoids these negative effects of fossil energy-based industrial product production.
What is it?
Instead of petroleum, industrial biotechnology uses biological resources such as plants, algae, marine life, fungi and micro-organisms, and biosolids to produce a broad range of products from plastics and chemicals to face creams and detergents. Because bioplastics can be engineered to biodegrade more quickly than traditional plastics do, companies such as PepsiCo and Coca-Cola are already using bio-based packaging materials and bottles. In medicine, industrial biotechnology can produce stitches that eventually dissolve. And in agriculture, compostable mulch films -- organic matter for mulching made into rolls -- can be left in the fields to biodegrade on their own.
But obstacles remain for the industrial biotech industry -- petroleum's price advantage being chief among them.
Accelerating the Economic Case
According to "Turning Plants Into Products," developing the bio-based products industry will require the organized cooperation of local, state, and federal governments, the investment community, trade organizations, and academia. Currently, the complexity of the industry and the immense investment required to commercialize bio-based products, aside a small number of joint-venture successes, have resulted in low investment participation and large attrition rates, particularly for underfunded biofuels start-up companies.
Among the approaches suggested in "Turning Plants Into Products":
•Establish concrete, long-term government policies. Some policies designed to help the industry have time frames that are too short for industrial biotech's long investment horizon, a shortcoming that dissuades private investment and decreases the odds of commercial success.
•Create prize forums. The industry is young and rich in opportunity for innovative technology and processes, and prize forums are an effective way to collect and share expertise.
•Utilize established resources. Beyond strategic partnerships, the industrial biotechnology industry can take advantage of existing pilot plants and encourage the development of more pilot and demonstration plants to test (and thus de-risk) technology and reduce the capital expenditures.
•Create innovative securitization. Start-ups that have already developed intellectual property can obtain financing by bundling their idea for the purpose of portfolio valuation and patent securitization. Investors can buy into bundled intellectual property once it is put up as collateral.
"The industry needs to find the momentum to get companies past the funding gaps and on to commercial-scale production," Kurtzman added. "This will require continued investment in R&D, supported by the government and public-private partnerships, to make the investment less risky and to increase the efficacy of the technology. We believe the results will be greatly worth the effort."
The Financial Innovations Lab that led to the development of the Institute report was funded in part by the Office of Energy Policy and New Uses at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Participants included leading scientists and technologists, bio-based product producers, banks, institutional investors, venture capitalists, public officials, and representatives from think tanks and industry associations.
"Turning Plants Into Products" was prepared by Kurtzman and Mark Conolly, a Milken Institute research analyst. The full report is available at www.milkeninstitute.org.
About the Institute: The Milken Institute is a nonprofit, independent
economic think tank whose mission is to improve the lives and economic
conditions of diverse populations around the world by helping business and
public policy leaders identify and implement innovative ideas for creating
broad-based prosperity. It is based in
Vending machines offering healthier options
(stltoday.com) – ST. LOUIS • Like most, the halls of the John Burroughs School host the usual lineup of vending machines, selling the usual fare: candy bars, chips and soda.
But in recent years those offerings have seemed to some school officials that they were sending a mixed message to students about healthy eating. So last year, the school brought in a machine with a healthier assortment of snacks.
"It might have been our hearts breaking when our kids came out of P.E. class drinking soda and eating all that stuff," said Peter Tasker, the school's athletic director, explaining what prompted the change. "Our machines were the classic machines that had the soda and the candy."
Now the new machine at Burroughs offers yogurt and pita chips, and more of its kind could be on the way to replace the older models. The move comes as more schools, hospitals, malls and health clubs make room for more vending machines that provide healthful foods, turning the idea of machine-based eating from an act of desperation into something a little more measured.
"We're all dialed into the idea of a traditional vending machine," Tasker said. "It's got to be a very deliberative effort to move away from that."
The machine comes via a California-based company called
Fresh Healthy Vending, which launched last year and now has operators in 39
states. Burroughs is among the first spots to host the machines in the
"It came upon me that the vending industry is 100 percent junk," said Jolly Backer, who launched the company last year. "No one had any healthy offerings. They teach kids how to eat healthy and then they feed them junk food from vending machines."
Backer, who had worked in the video game industry for 25
years, happened upon a food and healthy living trade show in
So far, Backer said, the company has placed 600 machines but are now adding about 100 each month. Progress has been relatively easy, mostly because demand for fresh healthy food has brought different offerings.
"The organic industry's exploded over the last few years, and that's made life a lot easier for us," Backer said. "The response shouldn't have come as a surprise for us because of the growth of the healthy market."
OFFERING CHOICES
Troy Dorner of Wildwood is an
insurance consultant hired by companies to control the cost of health care. In
the course of doing his job, he recognized that companies needed to offer more
healthful choice to employees. In a Google search, he came across Fresh Healthy
Vending and now has signed on for five machines. So far he has placed them at
Burroughs and at two YMCAs, with one planned for
"We're not trying to replace junk food. I love chocolate bars," Dorner said. "But we want to offer choices. I've been pretty encouraged with our monthly sales."
Kristin Templeton, a real estate agent from Dardenne Prairie, was also looking to get into the health food business when she stumbled across the company in an online search.
"I was very interested in doing something in the healthy market," she said. "I looked at healthy fast foods, I looked at yogurts. But I didn't want to be tied to a building."
Templeton, a mother of three, volunteers as a hall monitor in her kids' high school, where, she said, "I would see the choices that are offered and think, 'There has to be something better.'"
So far she has signed on for five machines and is planning to add five more. Fresh Healthy Vending is working to find the locations, but Templeton is doing her own legwork, too — and finding that it's not as easy as she thought.
The industry is notoriously competitive, and wedging machines into a tight marketplace requires a little effort.
"There are so many contracts out there," Templeton said. "Getting into the public schools is a long process, getting into the hospitals. There's just a lot of red tape."
Both Dorner and Templeton say a major target is schools. Last year the passage of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, gave the U.S. Department of Agriculture authority to develop nutritional standards for all foods sold in schools during the school day, including, for the first time, all school vending machines.
"It's going to be really interesting to see whether traditional vendors are willing to make the changes," Dorner said.
Still, getting in the door could be tough — and the new franchisees face big, established competition.
Dynamic Vending operates 5,000 machines in the
Three years ago, Koritz, noticing the demand for healthy food, installed a kitchen at the company's 50,000-square-foot Hazelwood headquarters where employees now concoct platters of fruit, vegetables and meats.
"Since we put in the kitchen, we're up to 600,000 or 700,000 units we're pushing out the door," Koritz said. "I can barely keep them in our machines."
The bulk of Koritz' business, however, remains the traditional soda and candy machines. "Health food isn't going away," he said. "But people still want a Snickers bar. People just want an option."
Conservative industry estimates suggest that the annual return on a vending machine is about $5,000 a year. But depending on the location and the contents, they can produce far more — so Templeton and Dorner say they're willing to battle the existing industry and be patient.
"I'm not tied to a bricks-and-mortar location," Templeton said. "If it's not working or I don't like it, I can unplug it and move on."
Scorpion venom a plant health food – study
(Medical News Today)
– Fables have long cast scorpions as bad-natured killers of hapless turtles
that naively agree to ferry them across rivers.
Ke Dong, MSU insect toxicologist and neurobiologist, studied the effects of scorpion venom with the hopes of finding new ways to protect plants from bugs. The results, which are published in the current issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry, have revealed new ways in which the venom works.
Past research identified scorpion toxin's usefulness in the development of insecticides. Its venom attacks various channels and receptors that control their prey's nervous and muscular systems. One major target of scorpion toxins is the voltage-gated sodium channel, a protein found in nerve and muscle cells used for rapid electrical signaling.
"Interestingly, some scorpion toxins selectively affect one type of sodium channels, but not others," Dong said. "The goal of our scorpion toxin project is to understand why certain scorpion toxins act on insect sodium channels, but not their mammalian counterparts."
Dong and a team of researchers were able to identify amino acid residues in insect sodium channels that make the channels more vulnerable to the venom from the Israeli desert scorpion. The team also discovered that an important sodium channel voltage sensor can influence the potency of the scorpion toxin.
"Investigating the venom's effect on the voltage-gated sodium channel could provide valuable information for designing new insecticides that work by selectively targeting insect sodium channels," Dong said.
Several classes of insecticides act on sodium channels, but insects become resistant to them over time. The researchers are studying how insects develop resistance and what alternatives can be created to control resistant pests, Dong added.
Palin decries ag
water restrictions in Calif.
(AP
via Contra Costa Times) LEMOORE -- Sarah Palin returned to
The former
"A faceless government is taking away their lifeline, water, all because of a 3-inch fish," Palin said. "Where I come from, a 3-inch fish, we call that bait. There is no need to destroy people's lives over bait."
Palin also spoke about high gas prices, dependence on foreign oil, the need for domestic drilling and limiting currency inflation.
"The government should get out of our way and let us get this economy moving again," she said. "Instead of drilling ourselves and circulating the money here, we're relying on foreign regimes."
The audience in what is generally a conservative region was supportive, cheering and applauding loudly. Someone even broke out with, "We love you Sarah!"
"It was awesome, she was right on," said Doug Freitas, a Lemoore farmer, after the speech. "About water, there are farmers who can't grow their crops, these hardworking people can't pay their bills. And the deficit, it's so scary and it seems like the general public doesn't realize it."
Palin's visit last year to California State University, Stanislaus -- about 120 miles away -- generated controversy after the university's nonprofit foundation refused to divulge the terms of her contract and speaking fee.
The public university eventually revealed its foundation paid Palin $75,000 to give a 40-minute speech, and the event raised more than $207,000 for scholarships.
This time,
Warkentin said he didn't know the exact amount Palin will receive. But he said the foundation has recouped the fee by selling tickets to a private, post-speech dinner with the 2008 Republican vice-presidential candidate.
Money from ticket sales will go toward scholarships and maintenance of the sports complex, Warkentin said.
"
The school, which has an enrollment of 3,000 this semester, did not provide an estimate of other costs associated with Palin's visit, including security, decorations and janitorial services.
Palin is the first of several high profile figures the
university will host as part of its new distinguished speaker series. Former
first lady Laura Bush is scheduled to speak at the sports arena in September.
Next February,
State Sen. Leland Yee, who criticized UC Stanislaus for not releasing how much it paid Palin, praised the college in Lemoore for being more transparent.
"I'm very pleased the foundation disclosed how much they will be paying Palin," Yee said. "I'm a little disappointed by the fact that Palin is a millionaire and our students are struggling, some of them cannot afford to go to college. I was hoping Sarah Palin would defer the fee and do the speech for the goodness of the college and for our students."
Far out man, celebrate hemp history week
May 2nd marked the start of the 2nd Annual Hemp History
Week, which is taking place from May 2nd-8th, 2011. The national grassroots
education campaign aims to renew strong support for hemp farming in the
In acknowledgement of Hemp History Week 2011, Rep. Ron Paul will submit an official Congressional Record statement in support of industrial hemp and the campaign for the second year in a row. Paul will also be circulating a "Dear Colleague" letter this week, calling on other members of Congress to, as the letter requests, "Let American Farmers Compete in a Booming Global Market." Rep. Paul will reintroduce the Industrial Hemp Farming Act again in Congress later this year. The bill had 25 co-sponsors in the last session. The statement can be read in its entirety at: http://www.HempHistoryWeek.com/RonPaulStatement
The campaign has garnered other support in Congress as well,
including that of Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Oregon): "During a time of
economic distress, we need to be encouraging American enterprise and American
job creation. It simply doesn't make sense to restrict a viable industry
because of unfounded fears. There are many success stories in my district about
companies who use or sell hemp products, and I don't believe we should be
limiting their potential. The Hemp History Week campaign is a great opportunity
to educate other elected officials and the American public about the tremendous
benefits that the ability to grow hemp in
The 2011 campaign is promoting the theme of "Hemp for Health and Sustainability" and is endorsed by high profile personalities such as physician Dr. Andrew Weil; actress and author Alicia Silverstone, consumer advocate Phil Lempert, registered dietician Ashley Koff; Ironman triathlete and nutrition expert Brendan Brazier; holistic health counselor Alexandra Jamieson; former NBA Champion John Salley; as well as renowned musicians Ziggy Marley; Dar Williams; and Michael Franti.
"Through Hemp History Week 2011, we are continuing to
build support for a federal policy change, while celebrating
Hundreds of natural product retail outlets across the country are featuring promotions throughout the month of May in celebration of Hemp History Week. Hemp product promotions in retail stores have increased from 125 stores last year to nearly 500 stores this year, including most Whole Foods Market locations in the U.S. Retail outlets will be offering specials on hemp products from leading natural product companies such as Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps, Manitoba Harvest, Nature's Path and Nutiva.
Across the country grassroots activists and volunteers will also be hosting local celebrations of hemp and its many uses. Students, farm communities, healthy lifestyle advocates, natural foods pioneers, and activists around the country have planned a variety of events. Over 80 grassroots events are happening across the country including tabling at farmers' markets; educational events in farm communities and on college campuses; as well as hemp fashion shows and house parties celebrating the goodness of hemp. Additionally, Hemp History Week will also be represented at many festivals leading up to and after May 8th.
In Boston, MA longtime hemp enthusiast John Dvorak hosted a Hemp History Week Hemposium at Suffolk University this past weekend, while in San Diego, CA organizers are hosting an "Edible and Wearable Hemp Fashion Show" on Sunday, May 8th. Other events across the country will include presentations on "Hemp Technologies in Asheville" in Asheville, NC; "Industrial Hemp 101: Re-Educating the Country" in Greensboro, NC; a week's schedule of celebrations in Santa Fe and Taos, NM; a celebration entitled "Hemp for Oregon - a sustainable crop for a healthy future" at the BridgePort BrewPub in Portland, OR; a cooking demonstration by endorsers Phil Lempert and Alexandra Jamieson at the Bowery Whole Foods Market culinary center in New York City; a press lunch on the health benefits of hemp foods with Ashley Koff, R.D. and Phil Lempert, also in NYC; and "Rural Vermont Celebrates Hemp" in Richmond, VT. A complete listing of events can be found at: http://www.hemphistoryweek.com/events.
A renewable resource offering a long list of health and nutritional benefits, hemp is one of the fastest-growing categories in the natural foods industry. Hemp is a rich source of omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids (EFAs), providing super omega stearidonic acid (SDA) and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), highly-digestible protein and naturally-occurring vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin E and iron, while being a good source of dietary fiber. It is a complete protein, containing all 10 essential amino acids, with no enzyme inhibitors, making it more digestible by the human body. Hemp seeds are also gluten-free.
Hemp History Week is made possible by the support of leading
natural product brands that are known for manufacturing the highest-quality
hemp products. Hemp can be used in a wide variety of products, including food,
cosmetics, clothing, building materials, auto parts and many more. Sponsors of
Hemp History Week include Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps,
French Meadow Bakery, Living Harvest Foods, Manitoba Harvest, Merry Hempsters, Nature's Path Foods, Nutiva
and Sequel Naturals. Sustainable hemp seed, fiber and oil are also used by
major companies such as Ford Motors,
Arran Stephens, founder of
Nature's Path Foods,
Other
The HIA estimates that
"Nutiva's sales have grown at
an annual rate of 41% since 2006. In 2009 and 2010, we were named by Inc.
Magazine as one of the fastest-growing businesses in
To date, seventeen states have passed pro-hemp legislation,
and six states (
"My co-founders of Manitoba Harvest and I are proud to
have successfully petitioned our government to legalize hemp in
For more information on Hemp History Week 2011 and a complete listing of event and retail locations, go to:
End Transmission