The Need for a System Integration Perspective to
Identify Industrial Biotechnology Development
Opportunities
Dr. Larry P. Walker, Professor, Director and Principle investigator, Biomass
Conversion Lab, Cornell University
ABSTRACT
Agricultural and forestry based fuels and products are generated by
fairly complex industrial ecologies that require the integration of many
technologies for successful commercialization. This is particularly true
for biotechnology approaches to developing this aspect of the global
bioeconomy. Unfortunately, we fail to understand that process
attributes must be integrated into complex product supply
chains/conversion systems. In essence, we can do a lot of process
optimizations that have no or limited impact on optimal systems performance. This is particularly an
issue with biofuels and bioproducts development where multiple thermochemical and biochemical
processes must be integrated in a thoughtful and holistic manner. This presentation will provide
examples of the challenges of integrating process attributes into the development of advanced biofuels
and bioproducts industrial ecologies.
BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Larry P. Walker is a Professor in the Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering at
Cornell University, and the Director of Cornell’s Biofuels Research Laboratory. During his tenure at
Cornell, Dr. Walker has been involved in a number of biomass to energy projects, including an
assessment of NYS biomass resources available for ethanol production, farm-scale methane production
and co-generation, the application of nanotechnology to discover and study important biocatalysts for
biofuels and industrial biotechnology. He currently leads a comprehensive research focused on
pretreatment and subsequent saccharification of lignocellulosic feedstock, and the application of
systems biology modeling to direct metabolic activities in yeast to drive more carbon to biofuels and
bioproducts. Throughout his career he has sought to integrate his research outcomes into a systems
engineering perspective on how to evolve sustainable biobased industries.
Dr. Walker has served in numerous leadership roles including membership on the National Biomass
Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee (2000 -2005). He led the Northeast Sun
Initiative, a regional bioenergy and bioproducts initiative, from 2004 through 2012. He is Co-Editor in
Chief for the journal, Industrial Biotechnology. He is the recipient of the 2008 Michigan State University
College of Agriculture and Natural Resources’ Outstanding Alumnus Award. In 2009 he was elected as a
fellow in the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering. Also, in 2009 he was awarded
the Outstanding Faculty Award from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Alumni Association and
the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University.