Biofuel must be derived from feedstock produced with much lower life-cycle greenhouse-gas emissions than traditional fossil fuels and with little or no competition with food production (Tilman et al., Science, July 2009). The same principle applies to producing bio-based products in order to achieve sustainability and the economy of scale.   

 Most commonly studied crops for the production of biofuels and bio-based products include switch grass, poplar, willow, and bast fiber crops like jute, kenaf, hemp, and flax.  Although the cultivation of bast fiber crops gose back to 5,000 years ago, as a group of high-quality fibers, their utilization has been limited to traditional products. Physical, chemical, and biological properties of these fibers have made them quality materials for many industrial applications like paper pulp, biofuels, thermoplastics, absorbents, composite, non-woven, and animal feed, etc.  New products developed from bast fibers have been used for automobile, packaging, construction, and environmental cleaning. Also, high biomass production (for example, kenaf can yield 25-30 ton/ha dry mass), wide ecological adaptability, and rich cellulose and semi-cellulose contents make these fiber crops good feedstock candidates for bio-based product and biofuel production. 

CCG has years of experience promoting the production and utilization of non-wood cellulose fibers including, but not limited to kenaf, jute, hemp, flax, and ramie. Previous Symposiums organized by CCG have brought together participants from around the world with common interests in exploring the use of these plant fibers for environmental protections and renewable energy production.   

From August 11-13, 2010, CCG will organize the next International Symposium on Renewable Feedstock for Biofuel and Bio-based Products in collaboration with the School of Human Ecology in The University of Texas at Austin.  The symposium will cover the following topics and activities: 

• The latest applications of natural fibers in textile, paper and pulp, biofuel, bio-plastic, automobile,  construction, packaging, animal feed and environmental cleaning, etc. 
• Developments of technologies for converting the plant fibers into value-added products, such as new  processing techniques, pretreatments for fiber extraction, evaluation tools for fiber quality, and enabling technologies for enhancing fiber production efficiency, etc.    
• Production and supply of feedstock for biofuels and bio-based products, including cultivation practice, harvesting and processing, mechanization, storage, new variety development, and biotechnology, etc.   
• Supply chain and quality control of bast fiber feedstock  
• Networking with experts, business developers, investors, governmental officials, and international agencies from around the world    
• Exploring investment opportunities, international collaborations, and new project development  
• Promoting environmentally friendly products and policy and improve regional economy through poverty alleviation   
• Exhibits of products and services   

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