NW Biodiesel Network July Education Forum

Tuesday, July 26, 2011, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm

@ Phinney Community Center, 6532 Phinney Ave. N, Seattle WA 98103

Feedstock and Agricultural Issues

What role do feedstocks and agricultural issues play in the food and fuel debate? How do they affect sustainable biofuels production, and agriculture and farm policy? Are they part of a sound environmental policy? An energy policy? Can we grow sufficient feedstocks to displace petroleum?

The NW Biodiesel Network’s July Education Forum follows-up on last month’s fuel and food discussion with a look at feedstocks and agriculture issues. We will discuss the challenges and opportunities involved in transforming conventional farming to a more sustainable and environmentally balanced agriculture practice, and how that translates to local feedstock availability.

The NW Biodiesel Network is pleased to present Pat Binns of Westbrook Associates LLC, and Steve Verhey of Cascadia Carbon Institute. Pat and Steve bring a wealth of experience to this subject.

Learn about this important issue and get your questions answered! The Forum will be held from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm on July 26th at the Seattle Phinney Center, 6532 Phinney Ave. N, Seattle WA 98103. Cost is Free.

More Information at www.nwbiodiesel.org/.

About Our Speakers

Pat Binns, Westbrook Associates LLC

Pat Binns is the principal of Westbrook Associates. He recently co-authored and co-edited a Green Agriculture report for the UN Environment Program (UNEP) that addressed the major challenges and opportunities involved in transforming conventional farming to a more sustainable and environmentally balanced agriculture practice. This report is one of the chapters in UNEP’s recently released Green Economy Report.

http://hqweb.unep.org/greeneconomy/Portals/88/documents/ger/GER_2_Agriculture.pdf

http://hqweb.unep.org/greeneconomy/v2/GreenEconomyReport/tabid/29846/Default.aspx

He is also currently preparing a paper on low carbon and ecological footprint agriculture for the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). In addition, he was actively involved in, and well acquainted with, the Sustainable Aviation Fuels Northwest work effort.

Steve Verhey, Cascadia Carbon Institute

Steve Verhey, Ph.D., is Executive Director of the Cascadia Carbon Institute, and co-founder of Central Washington Biodiesel, both in Ellensburg. The Cascadia Carbon Institute is a nonprofit think tank dedicated to educating policymakers, agriculturalists, industry, and the public about sustainability, agriculture, renewable energy, and global climate change. Dr. Verhey’s involvement in sustainable agriculture and energy began while he was a graduate student at Oregon State University. He has served as a consultant for a variety of national and international renewable energy projects aimed at using feedstocks from algae to yellow grease as sources of energy.