Rush for Resources, Ethics of building a bio-based economy

Thursday 1st September 2011, 15:30 - 18:30, The Hauser Forum, Cambridge CB3 0GT

Hosted by LCIC's partner; InCrops Enterprise Hub and the Nuffield Council on Bioethics host an industry-focused discussion event
 

 ‘Rush for Resources: Ethics of building a bio-based economy’

The event is for businesses interested in biomass as a feedstock for energy and materials, and is FREE to attend.

To achieve sustainable economic growth, global society needs to wean itself off fossil resources. This in turn puts increased pressure on available biomass, land and water. In the rush for resources, ethical considerations are easily overlooked or given a low priority.

This April the Nuffield Council on Bioethics published its report on the ethical issues surrounding biofuels (Biofuels: ethical issues).The report, which includes recommendations for policy and practice,  highlights that its conclusions are also applicable to other sectors which build on biomass as a key resource.

Join us to
•    Hear from Prof Christine Raines of the Council’s Working Party on biofuels, presenting the findings of the report.
•    Discuss the report recommendations and potential implications for the wider bio economy in the UK.
•    Respond to the findings of the report and share comments with other attendees.
•    Network with fellow businesses in the sector.

Registration - to attend this event please contact Julia O’Rourke, InCrops events co-ordinator, by Wednesday 24 August to register your place. Email j.orourke@uea.ac.uk or call 01603 591765.

Nuffield Council on Bioethics’ report Biofuels: ethical issues, published April 2011.
Concerns over energy security, economic development and climate change are driving the development of biofuels. Current methods of production have been associated with harms to the environment, threats to food security and human rights violations. New types of biofuels (eg lignocellulosic or algal) could help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while avoiding these problems, but commercial-scale production is some years away. The report, following an 18-month enquiry sets out an ethical framework to guide policy making for both current and future biofuels.  More information can be found at the website http://www.nuffieldbioethics.org/biofuels-0