Agenda
Oct 26-27: Scientific Conference
A deep dive into cutting-edge miscanthus science.
Location: iHotel and Conference Center (1900 S. 1st Street, Champaign, IL 61820)
Time Zone: Central Standard Time
Day 1 – October 26
| 8:00 AM | Breakfast and Registration |
| 8:45 AM | Welcome: Susan Martinis, Senior Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation, U. of I. |
| 9:15 AM | Session 1: Diversifying Supply Chains – Emily Heaton, U. of I. – Matthew Langholtz, Oak Ridge National Lab – Tongtong Li, U. of I. – Waltraud M. Kriven, U. of I. |
| 10:50 AM | Session 2: Bioprocessing, Biofuels, and Bioproducts – Vijay Singh, U. of I. – Derek Vardon, Alder Renewables – Shraddha Maitra, U. of I. – Joanna Cerazy-Waliszewska, Polish Academy of Sciences |
| 12:10 PM | Lunch |
| 1:00 PM | Plenary Talk – Iain Donnison, Aberystwyth University |
| 2:00 PM | Session 3: Policy Frameworks and Sustainability Metrics – Madhu Khanna, U. of I. – Carl Bernacchi, U. of I. – Jeremy Martin, Union of Concerned Scientists – Fahd Majeed, U. of I. |
| 3:35 PM | Session 4: Ecosystem Modeling and TEA – Andy VanLoocke, Iowa State University – Astley Hastings, University of Aberdeen – Lucas Kohl, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen – Jeremy Guest, U. of I. |
| 4:55 PM | Poster Session |
| 6:00 PM | Dinner |
Day 2 – October 27
| 8:00 AM | Breakfast |
| 9:00 AM | Welcome |
| 9:15 AM | Session 5: Genetics and Breeding – Erik Sacks, U. of I. – Kerrie Farrar, Aberystwyth University – Michal Mos, Energene Seeds Limited – Diego Jarquin, University of Florida |
| 10:50 AM | Session 6: Genomics and Biotechnology – Kankshita Swaminathan, HudsonAlpha – Daniel Rokhsar, University of California – Berkley – Mohammed El-Kebir, U. of I. – Pradeepa Hirannaiah, HudsonAlpha |
| 12:10 PM | Lunch |
| 1:00 PM | Plenary Talk – John Clifton-Brown, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen |
| 2:00 PM | Session 7: Agronomic Systems – Maryse Brancourt-Hulmel, INRAE – Toshihiko Yamada, Hokkaido University – D.K. Lee, U. of I. – Nicolas Boersma, Iowa State University |
| 3:35 PM | Session 8: Physiology and Phenotyping – Katarzyna Glowacka, University of Nebraska – Lincoln – Andrew Leakey, U. of I. – Michael Benson, U. of I. – Dylan Allen, U. of I. |
| 6:00 PM | Dinner |
| 7:00 PM | Fireside Chat: Building the Path from Discovery to Impact – Kankshita Swaminathan, HudsonAlpha – Sam Jackson, BRIDGES – Erik Sacks, U. of I. – Andrew Leakey, Moderator |
Oct 28-29: Industry Trade Show
Explore the growing miscanthus marketplace.
Location: University of Illinois Stock Pavilion (1402 Pennsylvania Avenue, Urbana, IL, 61801)
Time Zone: Central Standard Time
Day 3 – October 28
| 8:00 AM | Breakfast and Registration |
| 9:00 AM | Welcome |
| 9:15 AM | Industry & Technology Showcase – Lightning Talks from Registered Exhibitors – Travis Hedrick, AGgrow Tech |
| 10:15 AM | Session 2: Advanced Products & Pathways – Rob Tripp, Poulterra Inc. – Jean-Sebastien Gros, Boardwurks Biocomposites – Derek Vardon, Alder Renewables – Brian Jacobson, Moderator |
| 11:00 AM | Facility Tour – Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory |
| 12:00 PM | Lunch |
| 1:00 PM | Session 3: LCA & Sustainability Signals – What the Market Needs to Prove Value – Jeremy Guest, U. of I. – Jonathan W Coppess, U. of I. – Aaron Rudberg, S2G Investments – Ken Ruffatto, Moderator |
| 2:00 PM | Session 4: Water Quality & Ecosystem Services – Expanding the Value Proposition – Robert Weil, City of Decatur Illinois – Keith Schilling, University of Iowa – Bin Peng, U. of I. – Andy VanLoocke, Moderator |
| 3:00 PM | Session 5: From Potential to Platform – Frameworks for a Thriving Bioeconomy – Senator Paul Faraci, 52nd District – Illinois State Senate – Jeremy Martin, Union of Concerned Scientists – Kim Kidwell, Moderator – Secretary Kevin Atticks, Maryland Department of Agriculture (recorded remarks) |
| 3:45 PM | Facility Tour – Plant Biology Innovation Greenhouse |
| 5:30 PM | Dinner – Champaign Country Club |
| 7:00 PM | Fireside Chat: International Reactions & Global Miscanthus Community – John Clifton-Brown, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen – Maryse Hulmel, INRAE – Florian Ilias, TerraVesta – Emily Heaton, Moderator |
Day 4 – October 29
| 8:00 AM | Breakfast |
| 9:00 AM | Welcome |
| 9:15 AM | Session 6: Miscanthus at Scale – Deploying New Varieties – Travis Hedrick, AGgrow Tech – Florian Ilias, TerraVesta – Erik Sacks, U. of I. – Tom Voigt, Moderator |
| 10:15 AM | Session 7: Agronomy in Practice – Field Realities of Miscanthus Production – Brad Valentine, Genera Inc. – Steve Schomberg, Schomberg Farms – Lucas Kohl, Justus Liebig University Giessen – Talon Becker, Moderator |
| 11:15 AM | Session 8: Perennial Systems Agronomy: Nutrients & Water Cycling – D.K. Lee, U. of I. – Carl Bernacchi, U. of I. |
| 12:00 PM | Lunch |
| 1:00 PM | Energy Farm Operations & Overview – Tim Mies, U. of I. |
| 1:20 PM | Concluding Remarks |
| 1:30 PM | Facility Tour & Field Day – University of Illinois Energy Farm Concludes at 4:00PM |