NCERC hosts Annual Stakeholders Meeting
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The National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center (NCERC) hosted its annual Stakeholders Meeting on Thursday, October 24. Stakeholders from across industry, academia, government, and trade attended the meeting to hear the highlights of Fiscal Year 19 and plan for NCERC's future.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) Chancellor Randall Pembrook and SIU System President Kevin Dorsey kicked off the meeting. President Dorsey provided state government updates and federal government updates were provided by the staff of Congressmen Davis (IL-13), Shimkus (IL-15) and Bost (IL-12).
NCERC Executive Director John Caupert discussed the highlights, financials and initiatives of Fiscal Year 19.
Gary Most,
Marketicity
, presented NCERC's Branding and Marketing update that took place during the fiscal year. Paul Bertels, Farmgate Insights, LLC, then presented an Economic Opportunity study that NCERC took part in during the year.
Following the presentations, stakeholders divided into two breakout sessions hosted by both Most and Bertels to brainstorm new means for NCERC to expand its contractual research, grant-funded research, collaborations and corporate partnerships.
"In summary, FY19 can best be described as a fiscal year of reflection. Reflection upon what works well and what doesn't work so well, in addition to those uncontrollable external factors that impact fiscal year performance. NCERC looks forward to a strong FY20," said Caupert.
NCERC would like to thank our stakeholders for their unwavering support during the past fiscal year, and looks forward to a prosperous Fiscal Year 20.
Below left:
The NCERC trade show booth on display in the lobby at the Stakeholders meeting.
Below right:
SIU System President Kevin Dorsey delivering a welcome address to NCERC stakeholders.
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Above: Stakeholders discussing new ways to generate contractual and grant-funded research, collaborations, and corporate partnerships during the breakout session hosted by Paul Bertels.
Below left: Gary Most, Marketicity, presenting NCERC's Branding and Marketing Update at the Stakeholders meeting.
Below right: NCERC Executive Director John Caupert leading National Corn Growers Association staff on a tour of NCERC's facilities.
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Click below to see an overview of NCERC's fiscal year.
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EPA holds Public Hearing over Supplemental Notice
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EPA officials heard testimony from biofuels representatives, farmers, ethanol producers, and oil industry representatives including Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper, Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor, American Coalition for Ethanol CEO Brian Jennings, Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director Monte Shaw, Illinois Corn Growers Association Nutrient Loss Reduction Manager Megan Dwyer, and many more.
"On October 4, 2019, President Trump made an announcement that was well received by farmers, ethanol producers, and the biofuels industry overall. The President promised to “increase the volume of ethanol we blend into our fuel above 15 billion gallons, ensuring certainty for American producers.” The industry was promised that gallons of ethanol exempted through small refinery waivers would be reallocated based on a three-year rolling average of the number of actual gallons exempted, restoring biofuel demand in 2020. However, the proposal falls short of addressing those exempted gallons from Small Refinery Exemptions (SREs), and there are no guarantees in the proposal that ensure the EPA will grant fewer waivers in coming years.
"American farmers and biofuel producers cannot afford to have EPA improperly account for exempted gallons, and the demand lost due to the actual number of exempted gallons is causing market unrest. Not only are farmers and biofuel producers hurting, but this market unrest is harming NCERC as well. Market unrest is causing investment unrest, meaning no entities are willing to invest in biofuels research, NCERC’s main source of revenue. EPA’s proposal fails to ensure that farmers, biofuel producers, and others have the certainty they need to reinvest and rebuild after three years of detrimental demand destruction due to its granting of waivers.
"Like many biofuel producers across the Midwest, which are temporarily idled or have permanently closed, NCERC too, is undergoing staff restructuring and issuing layoff notices in order to sustain. The patience of farmers, biofuel producers and rural America is running out. EPA must account for gallons actually exempted through small refinery waivers in order to restore lost biofuel demand.
"The NCERC urges EPA to maintain the integrity of the RFS, address demand destruction caused by refinery waivers, restore all demand based on a three year average of actual exempted gallons beginning with the 2020 biofuel standards, and ultimately uphold the president’s promise to farmers across the Midwest."
NCERC plans to submit the above comments to the EPA in regards to the supplemental proposal before the comment period closes on Nov. 29.
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Top right (left to right): Glenn Johnston (Advanced Biofuels Association), Patrick Kelly (API), Emily Skor (Growth Energy), Kate Shenk (National Biodiesel Board), Brian Thalmann (National Corn Growers Association), Geoff Cooper (RFA) testifying at EPA public hearing on October 30.
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NCERC attends Global Ethanol Summit, holds meetings in Washington, D.C.
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Ethanol industry officials from around the world convened in Washington, D.C. this month for the first Global Ethanol Summit, jointly hosted by
United States Grains Council
(USGC), the
Renewable Fuels Association
(RFA) and
Growth Energy
. NCERC Executive Director John Caupert and Communications & Outreach Specialist Claire Weinzierl attended the Summit.
Over 400 attendees from 60 countries attended the Summit held from October 13 to 15.
On the first day of the Summit, USGC Chairman Darren Armstrong gave opening remarks and introduced keynote speaker USGC President and CEO Ryan LeGrand, who presented "Delivering on Ethanol's Potential Through Expanded Global Use" and USGC Chief Economist Mike Dwyer who delivered "Global Ethanol Outlook - Supply, Demand and Policy Drivers."
Sessions throughout the first day of the Summit included topics such as the environmental benefits of ethanol, policy, air quality and human health consequences, and opportunities for expanded ethanol use.
US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Stephen Censky delivered a keynote address "Delivering On Our Potential Through Collaboration and Trade" on the second day of the Summit.
Sessions throughout the second day of the Summit covered topics such as octane economics, fuel retailers, vehicle compatibility with ethanol, and more.
While in Washington, D.C., Caupert and Weinzierl also held meetings with the congressional staff of Congressman Rodney Davis (IL-13) and Congressman Mike Bost (IL-12) and with officials from the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Energy, Growth Energy, and
Biotechnology Innovation Organization
(BIO).
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Top Right: NCERC Executive Director John Caupert and Communications & Outreach Specialist Claire Weinzierl at Global Ethanol Summit.
Below: Environmental Protection Agency, Washington D.C.
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Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference held in San Francisco
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NCERC Executive Director John Caupert and Director of Research Dr. Yan Zhang attended the Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference (ABLC) on Next-Gen Technologies and Markets at the end of October in San Francisco, CA.
Hosted by Biofuels Digest,
ABLC NEXT
is one part of a connected series of seven conferences and 18 events on the most important issues in the bioeconomy right now. These conferences include the Advanced Biofuels Summit, Renewable Chemicals & Biomaterials Summit, Advanced Agriculture Summit, Advanced Nutrition Summit, Sustainable Aviation Summit, Biogas & RNG Summit, and NEXT Technologies Summit.
"ABLC is the go-to conference for entrepreneurs, investors and technology deployers. ABLC is reshaping the industrial world and the manner in which we think of it," said Caupert. "Attendees of ABLC represent all sectors of the bioeconomy, with a focus on clean, green, renewable, sustainable products and technologies. From biofuels to biopolymers and everything renewable in between - it's all represented at ABLC."
ABLC NEXT showcases the 40 emerging technologies and companies to become major bioeconomy companies over the near-to-mid term by redefining markets, growing revenues, and deploying at commercial scale. ABLC NEXT explores the vital role of the California, US and Canadian West Coast, and Pacific Rim markets for renewable fuels, chemicals, materials, nutrition and agricultural technology. ABLC NEXT looks in depth at eight themes: new markets, new technology platforms, deploying at scale, gaining speed, defining the ask, attracting capital, first products, and sustainable feedstock & agriculture.
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SIU hosts Technology & Innovation Expo
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The Expo began with a welcome from SIU System President Kevin Dorsey and SIU Edwardsville Chancellor Randall Pembrook and featured keynote speaker Sara Robinson (Google), who presented on utilizing machine learning to transform healthcare.
Also featured at the Expo were six speed pitches from academics from each university, SIUE, SIUC, and the School of Medicine. From SIUE was Mohammad Shavezipur who pitched "Pathogen Transport Modelled Biomimetic Sensor, Sensing Method, and Produce Sanitization" and Kenneth Witt who pitched "Somatostatin Receptor Type 4 Agonist Compounds for Alzheimer's Disease." From SIUC was Khalid Meksem, pitching "Soybean Resistant to Cyst Nematodes" and Boyd Goodson, pitching "Enhanced Catalysts for NMR/MRI Enhancement via SABRE." Finally, from the School of Medicine was Keith Gagnon, pitching "Tuning CRISPR/Cas9 Activity with Chemically Modified Nucleotide Substitutions" and Debashree Mukherjea, pitching "Treatment and Restoration of Hearing Loss."
The evening program included a panel on the business and health considerations of cannabis in Illinois, featuring participants Mitch Meyers (Co-Owner & Partner of Nature's Care Company), Dina Rollman (SVP of Government & Regulatory Affairs at Green Thumb Industries), Dale Buck Hales (Professor and Chair, Department of Physiology & Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology), and Aldwin Anterola (Associate Professor of Plant Biology).
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Top Right: Sara Robinson (Google) presenting at SIU Technology & Innovation Expo.
Below:
Cannabis: The Business and Health Considerations in Illinois" panel including Mitch Meyers (Co-Owner & Partner of Nature's Care Company), Dina Rollman (SVP of Government & Regulatory Affairs at Green Thumb Industries), Dale Buck Hales (Professor and Chair, Department of Physiology & Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology), and Aldwin Anterola (Associate Professor of Plant Biology).
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Chicago, IL
October 10
Washington D.C.
October 13-15
Omaha, NE
October 22-23
NCERC Annual Stakeholders Meeting
Edwardsville, IL
October 24
EPA Public Hearing
Ypsilanti, MI
October 30
San Francisco, CA
October 30-November 1
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Orlando, FL
November 11-15, 2019
Growth Energy Executive Leadership Conference
Key Biscayne, FL
February 5-8, 2020
Houston, TX
February 10-12, 2020
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National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center (NCERC)
400 University Park Drive, Edwardsville, IL 62025
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