Bio Base Europe: Flanders and the Netherlands Cooperate on Biofuels From Genetically Modified Poplars

AMSTERDAM, March 15, 2010 - Bio Base Europe is making progress in the development of
sustainable biofuels. The recent first crop of genetically modified poplars
of the Flemish Institute for Biotechnology (VIB) will be modified into
bioethanol in a Flemish-Dutch pilot installation.

Bio Base Europe, a joint initiative of Biopark Terneuzen and
Ghent Bio-Energy Valley, is a successful collaboration between The
Netherlands and Flanders. Bio Base Europe is taking the lead in the
development of a sustainable biobased economy in Europe.

Bio Base Europe consists of a pilot plant in Ghent for
biobased products and processes on the one hand, and a training center for
bio-process operators in Terneuzen on the other hand. Bio Base Europe
represents a joint investment of 21 Million Euro and is unique in Europe. It
was recently awarded with the European "Sail of Papenburg" cross border
award.

The first crop of poplars for second generation bio-ethanol production
has now been harvested!

In the pilot plant, scientists develop industrial processes to
convert agricultural co-products such as wheat straw, corn cobs and wood into
so-called second generation biofuels, bioplastics and other biobased
products. For that, Bio Base Europe collaborates with the Flemish Institute
for Biotechnology (VIB), renowned for its green biotechnology expertise.
Prof. Wout Boerjan has developed genetically modified poplars that produce
less lignin, facilitating their conversion into bioethanol. On May 6th, 2009
these poplars were planted for the first time in an open air field trial in
Ghent. The first crop of this field trial has now been harvested and will be
converted into bioethanol at the Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant. This draws us
yet another step closer to the realization of second generation biofuels.

Prof. Wim Soetaert, Director of the Bio Base Europe Pilot
Plant: "I am very happy with this new development on the long road towards
second generation biofuels. It is not coincidentally the result of a
Flemish-Dutch collaboration."

Or meet Prof. Wim Soetaert on Europa's largest Biofuels Congres in
Amsterdam (www.worldbiofuelsmarkets.com/) on Monday 15 March at
2pm in the press room of the RAI Convention Centre, Europaplein 22,
NL - 1078 GZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

A free press pass can be obtained with Mrs Laura Brownie,
laura.brownie@greenpowerconferences.com

www.bbeu.org

www.vib.be

www.bioparkterneuzen.com

www.gbev.org

For more information, please contact: Bio Base Europe, Prof. Wim Soetaert, +32-474-51-47-91, wim.soetaert at bbepp.eu; VIB Communicatie, Rene Custers, +32-474-52-13-40, rene.custers at vib.be