Finland, Maine & Michigan held high-level talks on advancing sustainable forest bioeconomy in Washington November 16
The Embassy of Finland to the United States in Washington, D.C. hosted a Bioeconomy collaboration event and reception for partner states Maine and Michigan and federal stakeholders on November 16, 2021.
Finland, Maine, and Michigan are collaborating on advancing sustainable forest bioeconomy development. Since September 2021 the three regions have hosted a combined collaboration group with almost 100 participants from academia to industry and government representatives. The efforts focus on topics such as biorefining, advanced wood construction, new wood-based products, sustainable and smart forestry as well as forest sector policies.
In a public event, Finland’s Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Petri Peltonen presented priorities in Finland’s new Bioeconomy Strategy. Both Maine and Michigan gave an overview of Forest Bioeconomy Priorities and Competences in their states. Dr. David Babson from ARPA-E gave a talk on U.S. federal bioeconomy research priorities. Jeremy Baines, President of Neste U.S. presented the company’s Renewable Biofuels products and activities in the US.
Ambassador of the Republic of Finland to the United States of America H.E. Mikko Hautala, Minister of Economic Affairs of Finland Mika Lintilä, Natural Resources Deputy of the State of Michigan Shannon Lott and Director Gary McDowell of Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Photo: Embassy of Finland
In the margins of the event Minister of Economic Affairs of Finland Mika Lintilä and Ambassador of Finland to the United States Mikko Hautala discussed goals for the partnership in 2022 with Maine’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry Amanda Beal, as well as Director Gary McDowell of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the state’s Natural Resources Deputy Shannon Lott.
Please see the event recording here:
Text:
Heli Hyypiä, Counselor, heli.hyypia(a)formin.fi, Section for Sustainable Growth and Commerce,
Embassy of Finland, Washington D.C.
Ulla Laine, Commercial Counselor, ulla.laine(a)formin.fi, Business Finland,
Embassy of Finland, Washington D.C.