Caupert presents at Governmental Affairs Leadership Conference
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The National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center (NCERC) Executive Director John Caupert presented at the Illinois Farm Bureau Governmental Affairs Leadership Conference (GALC) on Tuesday, February 18 in Springfield, Illinois.
GALC is a one-day event that highlights Illinois Farm Bureau legislative priorities, provides insights from nationally recognized speakers, and concludes with a legislative reception with members of the Illinois General Assembly.
Caupert presented as part of a workshop focused on Strategic Political Influence in Organizations of Shared Governance, for which he is well-versed. In addition to his 13 years as Executive Director for NCERC, Caupert served for three terms as President of the Alumni Board of Governors for the SIU College of Agricultural Sciences, served as President of Staff Senate for SIU Edwardsville, and currently serves as a three-term President of the Waterloo Community Unit District #5 Board of Education.
Other focuses of the workshop included Climate and Farm Bureau, IFB's National Priority Agenda, Anhydrous Ammonia, and A Deep Dive into State Legislative Priorities.
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NCERC Research Director attends National Aquaculture Conference
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The National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center Director of Research Dr. Yan Zhang attended the
Aquaculture America conference from February 9-12 at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu, Hawaii.
The conference was attended by many key players related to the aquaculture industry including major feed companies, government funding agencies such as the United States Department of Agriculture, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Department of Energy, and several academic groups.
Key speakers at the conference included Lilikala K. Kame'eleihiwa, Gladys Brandt Chair of Comparative Polynesian Studies, Dr. Jim Wyban, President of Marine Genetics LLC, Keli'i Kotubetey, Assistant Executive Director for He'eia Fishpond, Dr. Neil Jacobs, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for NOAA, and Dr. Mark Lyons, CEO of Alltech.
"This year is critical for the American aquaculture industry," said Zhang. "There is a huge push from the government to expand aquaculture production in the country."
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Growth Energy has "20/20 Vision" at Executive Leadership Conference
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Growth Energy hosted its 11th Annual Executive Leadership Conference from February 5-8 in Key Biscayne, Miami, Florida. NCERC Communications & Outreach Specialist Claire Weinzierl attended the conference.
Key takeaways of this year's ELC expressed that Growth Energy has 20/20 Vision when in comes to Washington, D.C., growing access to higher blends, in the global marketplace, and ensuring biofuels' rightful place in the climate solutions conversations.
Speakers included Jennifer Aurandt-Pilgrim of Marquis, Jay Beckel of ERI Solutions, LLC, Daniel Beltràn of Grupo Comborsa, Growth Energy's own Chris Bliley, Chris Carter of the Under The Hood radio show, Jake Comer of Casey's General Stores and many more.
Next year's ELC will be March 17-20, 2021 in Dana Point, California.
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NCERC collaborates with SIUC Cannabis Science Initiative for hemp biomass study
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The National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (NCERC at SIUE) was invited to participate in a collaborative research project with students and faculty of the Cannabis Science Initiative at SIU Carbondale.
Dr. Karla Gage is a faculty member and a part of the Cannabis Science Initiative at SIUC. Gage invited NCERC to collaborate on the study, which is focused on converting the biomass following CBD extraction and industrial hemp fiber biomass into ethanol.
The team designed the bench level study by the following:
1. Pre-pretreatment with alkaline
2. Pretreatment with alkaline
3. Enzymatic hydrolysis
4. Fermentation to make ethanol
The three students under Dr. Gage, Stacey Smithenry, Justin Berberich, and Avery Shikanai, helped ship the biomass samples to NCERC. The students will continue to be involved in learning about the study results and report back to their research group.
Above: One of the hemp biomass samples shipped to NCERC for the study.
Below (left to right)
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Stacey Smithenry, Agribusiness Economics and Ag Systems and Technology Management, Justin Berberich, Crop and Soil Science Environmental Management, Avery Shikanai, Master's in Plant Biology, and Lilia Ban, NCERC Asst. Ethanol Plant Scientific Analyst.
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The Renewable Fuels Association is "Focusing Forward" at National Ethanol Conference
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NCERC Communications & Outreach Specialist Claire Weinzierl attended the Renewable Fuels Association's 25th Annual National Ethanol Conference from February 10-12 at the Marriott Marquis in Houston, Texas.
Kicking off the conference sessions was a conversation between RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper and the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush.
Other key speakers included Robert McNally of Rapidan Energy Group, Bill Kristol of Defending Democracy Together, Roel Salazar of Argus, Ted McKinney, Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, USDA, Jon Doggett of National Corn Growers Association, and more.
Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy was honored with RFA's 2020 Industry Award during the conference.
Next year's NEC will be February 15-17 in San Diego, California.
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UK Agtech Roundtable Discussion
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The
World Trade Center St. Louis
hosted a roundtable discussion with representatives of local AgriBusiness companies and AgTech startup companies visiting from the United Kingdom on Monday, February 24.
NCERC Communications & Outreach Specialist Claire Weinzierl attended the discussion, which was led by John Jansen of Climate Corp.
The conversation centered around AgTech, agri-food tech, digital farming and workforce. Participants had the opportunity to share what makes St. Louis a prime location for AgTech companies.
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Key Biscayne, FL
February 5-8, 2020
Honolulu, HI
February 9-12, 2020
Houston, TX
February 10-12, 2020
Illinois Farm Bureau Governmental Affairs Leadership Conference
Springfield, IL
February 18, 2020
St. Louis AgriBusiness Club Meeting
St. Louis, MO
February 18, 2020
Venture Cafe
Creve Coeur, MO
February 18, 2020
World Trade Center St. Louis Round Table Discussion
St. Louis, MO
February 24, 2020
Waterloo High School Career Night
Waterloo, IL
February 27, 2020
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Washington, D.C.
March 25-27, 2020
AIChE 2020 Spring Meeting
Houston, TX
March 29-April 2, 2020
Engineering Biology Research Consortium
Houston, TX
April 2-4, 2020
Omaha, NE
May 13-14, 2020
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National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center (NCERC)
400 University Park Drive, Edwardsville, IL 62025
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