Today I would like to discuss the importance of the alliance between the polymer and agriculture industries in Ohio. Both of these industries are large Ohio industries, and Ohio has much to give back!

Ohio has the potential to produce biopolymers, utilizing soybeans and corn. This technology has performance advantages as well as better economics over fossil-based chemical and polymer products.

Ohio needs to build a bio-refinery in order to gain maximum benefit from biopolymer technology advancements. A bio-refinery would create a foundation for new job growth among the entire supply chain. It would act as a local business, generating local jobs, and it would allow Ohio to gain maximum benefit from biopolymer technology advancements.

Key to making this happen in Ohio is to attract a major agri-processing company to invest in an integrated bio-refinery. Ohio offers much to this industry in return:

• An experienced workforce
• Several major polymer and agriculture research universities
• Natural resources
• Large polymer and agriculture industries already in place

Ohio is in a position to fully support a bio-refinery. As a networker and connector organization, PolymerOhio hopes to continue to work closely with both industries in order to bring this important technology to Ohio.

I look forward to seeing what you think about this issue. What are your thoughts on bringing the biopolymer industry to Ohio? What do you think about building a bio-refinery here in Ohio?

Wayne