The recent Portland Press Herald article “Biobased products seen as vital for Maine’s growth” (June 21) shines a light on Maine’s emerging biobased industry.

Everyone in Maine agrees we need good jobs, and this article correctly highlights one industry with great potential – biobased manufacturing. “Biobased” means making products, materials and fuels out of plants instead of petroleum. In Maine, this means using our abundant biomass from forest, farm and sea.

Citing the recent U.S. Department of Agriculture report that Maine has the third-highest concentration of jobs in “biobased products,” the article also quotes U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, who says we can rebuild rural economies by going biobased.

Some Maine companies are already making the next generation of sustainable products to respond to global demand. Among these are companies that have achieved the “Bio-Preferred Producer” designation, like Grow-Tech, LLC of South Portland, which makes horticultural growth media.

Fortunately, there is a resource for businesses and others interested in biobased: a growing trade association called Biobased Maine.

With business members like Grow-Tech, and other members that can help provide research and development support, like the University of Maine, Biobased Maine is committed to helping Maine businesses respond to the global demand for biobased products – and creating good manufacturing jobs in the process.

Charlotte Mace

executive director, Biobased Maine

Portland

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