December 5, 2007
Biofuel To Be Highlighted At Florida Ag Expo
Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson will be at the second annual Florida Ag Expo for a demonstration of ethanol, an energy source Bronson has advocated for several years. The two-day expo will be held December 6-7 at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Balm.
The Ag Expo, put on by the University of Florida IFAS and a number of agriculture associations, draws more than 1,200 people representing various sectors of the agriculture industry. It gives participants a chance to see the latest in Best Management Practices (BMPs) for farming, learn about the latest research on insects and diseases impacting crops, and find out about state-of-the-art agriculture products such as GPS-controlled tractors and cold-protection foam machines. Bronson is especially pleased that a field demonstration will highlight the processing of sorghum biomass for ethanol production.
“I think Florida’s agriculture industry needs to see first hand that it can be an integral part of alternative fuel production in the future,” Bronson said. “Using post-harvest residues and other cellulosic material, Florida can be a leader in ethanol production and help reduce our reliance on foreign oil.”
Another critical topic at the expo will be food safety initiatives undertaken by the growers themselves. This year, in response to increasing concerns about contaminated food, tomato growers sought out stricter regulations for their industry. These Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) will likely be extended to other commodities over time.
“The public is understandably concerned about the safety of the food supply given the many food born illness outbreaks this year,” Bronson said. “The agriculture industry in Florida is taking steps to strengthen food safety measures and calm the fears of consumers.”
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Bronson will hold a press conference to discuss food safety initiatives under way in Florida and talk about the future of ethanol and other alternative fuels. The press conference will be held Friday, December 7, at 10 a.m. at Gulf Coast Research and Education Center 14625 County Road 672 in Wimauma. The media is invited to come and watch the various demonstrations at the expo, which will feature field tours and more than 80 vendor booths. For more information and directions to the expo visit http://flagexpo.ifas.ufl.edu.
For more information:
Liz Compton
(850) 488-3022
comptol@doacs.state.fl.us
