May 23 2008
Ian Hudson, president, DuPont Europe, Middle East + Africa, recently participated in a public policy panel discussion on agriculture and biofuels hosted by the European Policy Centre in Brussels. Representatives from the European Commission, European Parliament, international community and industry attended.
"Today we are confronted with several challenges, among which is the need for increased food production around the world and the need for renewable energy and materials," Ian said. "These increasing demands mean that agriculture has to become more productive, efficient and environmentally smart."
"Productivity enhancing technologies, such as biotechnology, have the potential to contribute to the sustainability of both agriculture and biofuels," he added. "First-generation biofuels allow the industry to develop its infrastructure now and to facilitate conversion for when second generation technologies become commercially viable."
The panel was preceded by keynote remarks from European Commissioner for Agriculture Mariann Fischer Boel, who said that "biofuels must not become a scapegoat". To view her speech, click here.