On behalf of the ATIP Foundation and our co-hosts, Wichita State University, and Kansas State University, we are pleased to invite your participation in one of only three forums we will conduct nationally, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

We have been asked to conduct these forums to both inform and receive input from stakeholders on research conducted during the past five years by USDA and their land-grant partners, relative to crops that can be utilized to produce jet biofuel. In particular, the multi-disciplinary project, titled "Accelerated commercial development of hydrotreated renewable jet fuel (HRJ) from redesigned oilseed feedstocks supply chains" has looked at several factors ranging from (1) genetic improvement of candidate crops, (2) regional strategies for production, (3) oilseed processing and conversion to jet fuel, (4) economic and life cycle analysis, (5) systems analysis, and (6) education and outreach. Please see attachment (Overview of HRJ forums) for a synopsis of the project including these enumerated components.

These forums are viewed by rural development as catalysts to expand and grow the biofuel industry in the states that grow these crops, thereby creating jobs, stimulating the economy. The forums are invitational only and limited to 60 attendees at each forum; if attending please RSVP by COB June 30, 2017.  

You are receiving this invitation because you have been nominated as a thought and opinion leader in one of our targeted sectors, which include (1) local, county, & state elected and appointed officials; (2) economic and workforce development; (3) academia; (4) finance; (5) business & industry and (6) the entire supply chain from growers to end users. All are critical decision makers if the Southern Plain states decide to focus on the growth of this industry.

The forum will include a presentation on the research, as well as information on the demand by federal agencies and airlines willing to provide offtake agreements. Discussion by forum participants is expected to focus on regional issues of production and commercialization. The Southern Plains forum will be convened at the National Center for Aviation Training (NCAT), 4004 N Webb Rd. Wichita, KS on July 11, 2017. To assist you in decision-making, we have provided specific local hotel information, other local activities and airline service to the Wichita airport in the links below.

We expect the forums will formally convene by 9 AM and adjourn by 3:30 PM. To register, please hit reply - which will go to Dr. Rick Brenner, Director of the ATIP Foundation at   rbrenner@atipfoundation.com .

**If you have already RSVP'd and received a confirmation email from Richard Brenner, ATIP Foundation, you do not need to respond to this reminder.** 

We encourage you to register early to ensure your attendance, and look forward to being with you at one of our forums.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions prior to making your decision.

Sincerely,

Co-hosts 

Wes Jurey  President & CEO  ATIP Foundation

Muhammad Mustafizur Rahman  Department Chair, Mechanical Engineering  Sam Bloomfield Chair in Engineering Wichita State University

Michael Stamm  Canola Breeder  Associate Agronomist  Kansas State University