University College Cork are to host the Agricultural Biotechnology International Conference 2008 from Sunday, August 24 through to Wednesday, August 27.

The international conference comes at a time when oil prices have reached $150 a barrel and could be set to go as high as $250 per barrel, if predictions by the Russian energy company Gazprom come to pass, and. Many experts are also now warning that with so much of the economy heavily reliant on these non-renewable energy sources, increased demand and dwindling supplies will continue to see cost prices soar further.

With some scientific evidence now pointing towards a serious flaw in the first generation of biofuels in relation to their energy efficiency levels, economics and impact on land-use and food availability, ABIC 2008 therefore intends to focus primarily on the next generation of biofuels, with a special session on 'Biotechnology for second, third and fourth generation biofuels' scheduled.

The session is sponsored by BP Biofuels who will be presenting their own second generation biofuel systems. Iain Donnison, IGER, Wales, will discuss the latest advances regarding grasses as second generation biomass crops, while Christoph Benning, Michigan State University, USA, will discuss how to diversify and add value to oilseed crops. Maria Tuohy, NUI Galway & Eirzyme, will talk about enzyme research in Ireland for bioenergy production.

The company Verenium, which is considered to be at the most advanced R & D stages of developing enzymes for efficiently converting wood to ethanol, will present their research and timeline to application. Finally, the company Synthetic Genomics, founded by Craig Venter who decoded the human genome, will present its 'synthetic biology' research on genetic modifications of microalgae and bacteria to make the third and fourth generation biofuels of the future.

Dr Charles Spillane, head of the Genetics & Biotechnology Lab at UCC and Chair of the ABIC Programme Committee says, "Ireland and the EU need to more fully embrace the development of a sustainable bio-economy whereby bio-refineries can provide new energy, jobs and sustainable production processes supported by new forms of agricultural production. The development of such bio-refineries will require a convergence of scientific disciplines ranging across agronomy, genetics, biochemistry, microbiology and engineering".

Professor Jimmy Burke, Head of TEAGASC Oak Park and ABIC2008 Chair stated added, "The four-day event will offer participants the opportunity to exchange ideas and hear from a distinguished line-up of internationally-acclaimed speakers. The conference combines the business of science with the latest discoveries and trends in research and technology development, and gives the research and business community opportunities to meet and exchange ideas."

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