We have kicked off the programme 20 May 2010

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Photo: Baggböle Mansion. Kjell Olofsson

The BioImprove programme had a kick-off symposium in May, 20, 2010 in the fantastic surroundings of Baggböle in Umeå, Sweden. A diversified programme was set up for the day to stimulate participants of the programme for the various tasks stretching from the metabolic flows of photosynthates in the plants to public perception of alternative fuels.

Eva Fridman from the Biofuel Region opened the day by informing about the different biofuels that can produced from the lignocellulose rawmaterial. She reminded us that ethanol is not the only option for the future biofuels, but also methanol, biogas, dimethylether and synthetic diesel can be produced using the lignocellulose as the starting material. She also reminded us about the difficulties to match the preferences and perception of the public with the capacities and technologies of the biofuel production, and how all this should be integrated into the research programmes on feedstock production and modification.
Martin Lersch, a research director of the company Borregaard in Norway, gave a very interesting presentation of his company. Borregaard is one of the few biorefineries in the world utilising forest feedstocks for a large variety of different products, and actually the company is not at all producing the traditionally important pulp and paper products. it was very interesting to hear the value of lignin (or lignosulfonates) as a source of various novel application and products. In addition, interesting presentation were given on feedstock physiology by professor Alison Smith from the John Innes Centre, UK, and on genetic improvement by Doc. Rosario Garcia-Gil from UPSC, Umeå.