Historically, our division has focused on the development of efficient fermentation processes for the production of antibiotics and other higher value compounds. We are now in an era in which fermentation technology is being called upon to produce commodity fuels and chemicals that have intrinsically much lower values.

This presents a special challenge. Not only must we produce much larger volumes at higher rates and in better yields, we must do so from substrates that are recalcitrant and highly heterogeneous.

We are at the beginning of an industry expansion that is unparalleled in history. Production of the targeted 36 billion gallons of ethanol per year, the majority of which is mandated to come from cellulose and hemicellulose, will require at least 300 billion gallons of annual fermentation capacity and the development of breakthrough enzyme and microbial catalyst technologies.

Today, however, we have tools for strain and process optimization that are unprecedented. Not only can we know the genetic sequence and transcript expression profile of virtually any microbe, we can also synthesize large DNA fragments, create completely new proteins recover products much more efficiently than was conceivable even a few years ago.

Just as the technology of our industry is changing, the expectations that the public vests in it are shifting as well. As responsible members of the scientific community, we must always be cautious about assertions and assuring about concerns.

The ASM Division of Fermentation and Biotechnology is in a position to make major contributions to the science, technology and public education about the issues and opportunities that face us.

Please join with us in that effort.

--Thomas W. Jeffries, Chair, Division O, ASM