Food vs. Fuel? Crops being used for both biofuels and food, like corn, wheat, canola and palm oil, are increasingly more expensive. In Italy pasta is costing more, and in Germany beer prices are on the rise. The US Meat Institute claim food prices have risen by $17 billion in the past year, which they attribute to more corn being used for ethanol. Join in as we discuss... Will food manufacturers and energy companies compete in the future? What impact are biofuels having on our food supply and food prices? Do consumers want cheaper food on their tables or cleaner fuel in their cars? Why shouldn't agriculture get a fair price for the products they grow? What are the opportunities for agricultural and forestry products in renewable energy? Will the price of oil become the support price for food commodities? Next Generation of Biofuels The world is anxiously awaiting the next generation of biofuels, but when will they be available at the pumps? Biofuels from cellulose will eventually cost less to produce, broaden the choice of feedstock without impacting food supplies, and improve greenhouse gas emissions. The US Department of Energy recently announced that six companies have qualified for upwards of $200 million, over five years to develop small-scale cellulosic bio-refineries in the United States. In this session we will hear from one of these companies about... How long before cellulosic ethanol is available at gas pumps across the nation? How much money is it going to take to make the industry competitive? What happens to the current corn, wheat and sugarcane plants that are currently producing ethanol? Where will the feedstock come from and how will a constant supply of cellulose be assured? What are some of the logistical challenges and opportunities when it comes to producing cellulosic ethanol? Is Interest in Renewable Energy Sustainable? Bioenergy, biofuels in particular, are heavily dependent on public and government support, whether it is exempting biofuels from sales and excise taxes, setting national biofuels standards, loan guarantees, tax credits or grants. All of these measures cost the taxpayer. Join our discussion about... Will public and political support for renewable energy be there in the long term? Which jurisdictions and countries will set the standards for the rest of the world to follow? Will oil and gasoline prices continue to rise, and will global supply continue to decline? Will North American & European governments continue to subsidize biofuels and set national standards? Are we producing enough renewable energy to make a difference? What are the real costs to produce renewable energy? How Carbon Trading Works One of the least understood but rapidly expanding markets is carbon emission trading. Global market-traded carbon volumes were worth less than $1 billion US in 2004, $11 billion in 2005 and over $30 billion last year (2006), according to the World Bank. Join us for some answers about... How do carbon emission and offset trading programs work? What can you sell and who will buy it? What are your options in terms of the various trading markets? Who is trading and who benefits the most? What offset programs work best from an environmental standpoint? How will the Alberta Carbon Market (first in Canada) work? What can we learn from the European experience? When will the various trading markets be fully functioning?