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Expert is an expert in bioenergy, renewable energy and biobased products that works with companies and investment managers to evaluate and commercialize technology, identify new markets and to optimize R&D programs.

Areas where Expert is effective:
- Commercialize technology,
- Identify new markets,
- Technology scouting and evaluation,
- Provide competitive intelligence
- Evaluate intellectual property landscapes,
- Develop technology roadmaps,
- Implement projects,
- Identify the right collaborators, partners and customers.

Examples include:
- Assessment of gasification and pyrolysis systems for conversion of biomass and waste streams to bioenergy sources.
- Development of waste-to-energy gasification facilities.
- Wrote several white papers for US ag biotech companies detailing opportunities for extraction of high value products from commodity crops, energy crop bioprocessing and logistics improvements, non-destructive analysis techniques and market analysis for bioenergy crops.
- For a US ag biotech company, developed a detailed roadmap for fuel pellet production from energy crops.
- Working with the Jamaican Ministry of Energy and Mining, developed a plan for the sugar industry to increase efficiency of biopower generation from bagasse and sustainable forestry.
- Patent landscape analysis for a agricultural biotechnology companies.
- Working with an entrepreneurial team to establish a wood pellet operation in the southeast USA for export of product to European utilities.

Renewable Energy, Bioenergy, Biomass, Waste to Energy, Waste to Renewable Diesel, Waste to Jet Fuel, Bio-Based Products, Logistics, Wood Pellets, Energy Crops


Expert has over 26 years experience in the agricultural biotechnology sector. His experience includes leading international R&D efforts in creating new plant varieties through gene transfer, functional genomics and application of genomic technology. He also was involved in developing advanced imaging and data analysis systems to accelerate collection of phenomic data to evaluate new plant varieties.

Expert has served as a consultant in agricultural biotechnology projects geared toward optimizing R&D with a focus on commercializing laboratory discoveries. He has also served as an adviser to the Genome Canada program for several years as a lab-to-market specialist.

Examples include:
• Directed R&D for adapting plant growth systems to analysis using x-ray technology for seamless integration into existing agricultural biotechnology operations in industry and academia.
• Developed innovative granular rooting medium that allows natural root development while significantly improving image quality.
• Developed novel software-based methods for extraction of quantitative data from images and analysis of developing root systems.
• Wrote a commercialization plan for RootViz FS, the flagship digital x-ray imaging product.
• Served as company liaison to industrial and academic customers as well as trade organizations.
• Raised capital and operating funds through federal grants.
• Managed regulatory affairs.
• Conducted strategic planning and opportunity assessment that resulted in more than doubling the size of the business over two years.
• Developed the core elements of an international research program focusing on growth and biomass productivity of trees.
• Established scientific approaches to improved biomass productivity in trees that are currently in various stages of product development.
• Used a systems biology approach to transfer a knowledge base from Arabidopsis genomics and developmental biology directly to R&D programs in several species of forest trees.
• Established a functional genomics gene testing pipeline for hardwood and softwood trees that spanned laboratory, greenhouse, and field testing.
• Developed a technique for rapid biomass chemical analysis in collaboration with scientists at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
• Used bioinformatics to identify pine and Eucalyptus genes for improved biomass, bioenergy and bioproduct applications.
• Inventor on several US and World patent applications.
• Conducted ongoing competitive intelligence and strategic planning.
• Identified critical outside technology and negotiated licensing agreements.
• Started an R&D program to use gene technology in tree improvement.
• Invented a process for transferring genes into pine trees and established the first world-wide field planting of transgenic pine trees.
• Identified critical technologies and negotiated material transfer agreements.
• Served on the due-diligence team to assist in formation of the joint venture ArborGen.
• Conducted ongoing competitive intelligence review of agricultural biotechnology industry.

Expert has worked with bioenergy statups to provide technical and business development advice. The goal of this work is to commercialize the business of bioenergy from growing the bioenergy crops to delivery of the material to power producers. He has worked with power companies and biomass growers to develop a standardized set of methods for handling and processing of bioenergy feedstock to allow cost efficient use of this material in large-scale power generation. He consulted with an non-US governmental agency to evaluate genomics-based research projects. He evaluated the projects based on the technical competency of the project teams and the potential for commercial success of the proposed projects. Projects included biotechnology applications in medical research, agricultural biotechnology and crop production. Expert has consulted with several university research programs developing advanced feedstocks for bioenergy, biomass, and bioproduct applications. This work involved technical and economic analysis of the projects on an ongoing basis to develop pre-commercial products.Conducting market research and competitive intelligence for a company building a series of renewable jet fuel production facilities. These facilities will use gasification technology to convert waste railroad ties, power poles and municipal solid waste to renewal jet fuel.Led an extended project for the Jamaican Ministry of Energy and Mining to assist the sugar industry in better utilization of their waste biomass in generating renewable electricity. Project analyzed use of waste biomass (bagasse) and potential of selecting sugar cane varieties that would supply more bagasse without sacrificing sugar yield.

Expert also developed a plan to create a new market for energy crops in Jamaica that could feed renewable electricity to the national grid.Developed a reproducible model for implementing waste-to-energy facilities based on gasification and pyrolysis. Facilities are designed to accept a range of waste products including MSW, C&D, urban wood, forestry residues and produce electricity and renewable diesel. Performed technical analysis of currently available gasification and pyrolysis technologies to identify those suitable for current market conditions, ability to be financed and meet performance standards for target markets.Performed agricultural technology landscape evaluations for a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to guide investment decisions intended to accelerate technology applications in developing nations, especially Africa, Asia and the Indian subcontinent. Provided intellectual property analysis and performed freedom-to-operated evaluations for technology discoveries. The company was preparing to initiate a new campaign to engage potential customers in collaborative development of their products for agricultural use. They desired a critical review of their R&D capabilities as well as suggestions for marketing strategies. Performed a critical assessment of their R&D capabilities as well as the greenhouse/field performance of new products in the development pipelines. anticipated in strategic planning for strengthening their capabilities for R&D and entering into collaborative product development activities Provided technical evaluation and competitive analysis for several biomass- and bioenergy related technologies in support of long term strategic planning for a major agricultural biotechnology company.Worked on-site to coordinate a research group of 20 employees. Implemented a “work culture change” to refocus an invigorate staff. Developed a plan to consolidate Champaign R&D effort with the breeding program located in Lubbock TX. Oversaw R&D programs including: trait development, plant tissue culture, plant transformation and biofuels production in sorghum (the latter an ARPR-E funded program. Managed the ARPA-E funded project to product farnesene in sorghum as a liquid fuel precursor.

Oversaw line of experimentation. A renewable energy startup was interested in establishing a US-based wood pellet manufacturing facility to serve the EU market.-Assessment of EU pellet market. Identified major uses and potential customers. Compliance with EU sustainability requirements. Compliance with technical standards for biomass pellet fuel -Contacted potential customers
-Facility site selection
-Air permitting. Interaction with engineering/EPC contractors Performed market projections for growth of the pellet market in Europe and North America. Assessed technical requirements of non-woody pellet fuel for use in biomass heating and power generation for two target markets in the EU: large power-generating utilities and residential users.Developed scenarios for for energy crop feedstock logistics in the USA covering targeted growing areas, pellet production and break-bulk shipping from US ports to the EU. Performed a cost analysis for production of energy crop .Performed a cost analysis for production.Wrote a series of technical white papers support of strategic analysis of how R&D can support business goals.White paper topics included:Pellet fuels for renewable energy. Pre-processing biomass feedstock for renewable energy and chemical production. Production of biogas. The impact of agronomic practices on biomass fuel characteristics. Use of near infrared spectroscopy for sorghum breeding trait analysis. Reduction of alkalai, chlorine and ash content in biomass. Production high value products and nutraceuticals in sorghum.