Carr tapped as new Algae Biomass Organization chief

Exits as BIO’s industrial biotech policy guru to become an Algae Czar. 

Today, there are hundreds of biologists, engineers and commercial gurus leading algae to new heights in the labs, pilot plants, demonstration plants — even commercial-scale fermenters. Algae – the underlying source of a myriad of “available today” products from Omega-3 supplements to biodiesel, health and beauty products and more — with more apps coming in the near future.

But who’s taking algae to new heights in Washington, DC — where awareness is spotty, sometimes negative — and where the crush of potential new applications has created a backlog of policy needs. 

With that, the Algae Biomass Organization has headed for Washington, and tapped long-time industrial biotech policy wunderkind Matt Carr as their new executive director.

What’s next for algae in the pressure-laden cauldron known as DC? Carr visits with the Digest.

The background

The algae industry is certainly been growing up and diversifying. From a handful of lab-stage ventures and stakeholders back in 2007-08 when organizations like the Algae Biomass Organization and the National Algae Association formed.

Today — the talk has moved away from single-product to multi-product, from a single-minded focus on R&D to a blend of R&D and active commercialization. Products like algae-based omega-3s, Algenist skin creams, animal and fish feed, and algae based fuels for road and air transport — these are living realities if not always yet made at full commercial scale with the resulting economies of scale.

This year, the Algae Biomass Organization took the decision to move to Washington DC — from previous headquarters in Minneapolis — and with that decision, the organization’s first executive director, Mary Rosenthal, bowed out. The search was on for a DC-based executive director, a veteran of the wars around cleantech and biotech policy.

This morning, the ABO announced that Matt Carr, longtime managing director for BIO’s Industrial & Environmental section and a highly-respected and high-profile cleantech leader, would join ABO as it’s new executive director.

Dr. Carr spent nearly a decade at BIO, the world’s largest trade association representing biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the US and more than 30 other nations. Dr. Carr focused on biotechnology companies who are developing new products and technologies derived from renewable sources or manufactured in sustainable processes. He helped them navigate the complex regulatory environment and create mutually beneficial outcomes for consumers, government and the companies themselves.

Prior to joining BIO, Dr. Carr was the American Meteorological Society Congressional Fellow on the Senate Agriculture Committee for Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), where he contributed to the development of the biomass provisions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Before starting his career in DC, Carr was an environmental reporter for the Dallas Morning News. He received his Ph.D. in Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Washington and a B.Sc. in Atmospheric & Ocean Sciences (Honors) from McGill University.

Reaction

“Matt is well-known and respected throughout the biotech community and among government and policy officials on The Hill and Administration,” said Margaret McCormick, chair of ABO’s board of directors. “His ability to develop strong relationships with member companies, understand and articulate their business challenges, as well as his expertise in the issues facing the algae industry make Matt the perfect fit for ABO.”

The Digest caught up with Matt and ABO to learn more about the opportunities and challenges for ABO and the algae industry — and his first steps.

5 Minutes with Matt Carr and ABO

BD: Matt, with a thousand tasks to undertake, what’s going to be the initial focus? What’s the most important thing you’ll be working on?
MC: The #1 challenge is a stable policy environment. Ultimately, it all comes down to financing; in this respect, algae is no different than any other early-stage industry. We have to demonstrate the technologies at commercial scale, and someone has to take the risk. The private sector has to play that leading role, but government needs to be an effective partner, and a stable policy environment is crucial.

BD: What do you expect will be your first steps?
MC: Outreach. Listening. First and foremost, there’s outreach to the agencies and the Hill, but it’s just policy, its connecting with private investors, partnering upstream and downstream. Also, there’s the environmental community. It starts out day one with reaching out to members, learning about needs. Then, reaching out to the Hill, and then to the broader community.

BD: What are your key tasks in DC for the year ahead?
MC: I want to help to grow the sector in any way I can — but coverage is key. The sector is regulated or influenced by any number of of agencies — DOE, DoD, EPA just to name a few. Also, there’s environmental policy as set by Congress. Connecting with all that activity, helping to guide it. That’s a key task, especially with issues like carbon capture and use.

BD: Five years ago, most algae ventures were focused on fuels; now, there’s a proliferation of products. How is the discussion in DC changing, or does it need to change more?
MC: Fuels have a natural forum with policymakers. This is not only for algae but across all biotech, because of the importance of issues like energy security. Among the ABO members, the opportunities are well beyond fuels —foods, nutrition and more, and we need to get policymakers to see the diversity beyond fuels.

BD: In policy, there’s Washington and then there’s everywhere else. what are opportunities at the state level?
MC: Given some of the gridlock in DC, a lot of activity will be at the state level – there are policies like California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard, for example. Let me give one pressing example, and that’s working with EPA and its new carbon emissions policy, we want to make sure that carbon utilization is recognized. There’s been a lot of leeway given to the individual states, so we will be looking to educate on carbon capture and beneficial use.

BD: What are the priorities around the globe?
MC: When we talk about international, there are members looking around the world at Australia, Southeast Asia, and Europe, and I hope to build on relationships established when I was at BIO.

BD: DOE has come under scrutiny for years of supporting algae research, and not much commercial activity to date, to show for it. What can be done better — what’s DOE’s role?
MC: DOE is always part of every innovation cycle. The public sector is a natural partner for innovation, starting at the Office of Science, and then progressing to the Bioenergy Technologies Office, where they take a leading role in developing towards commercialization. And the Fossil Energy Office can also play a key role because of opportunities in carbon dioxide. It’s a key role

BD: What inspired you to take up the challenge?
MC: Algae in a lot of ways represents the very best of cleantech. I’d had the pleasure of working alongside ABO and several of its members during the past five years on ensuring federal and state policy supports the growth of the biobased economy. I admired the passion and potential for this industry to make a significant impact on our nation’s economic, energy and food security

Now, the algae industry is embarking on a more aggressive phase of growth. Not only diversifying the products, but in taking the decision to move to Washington. When I heard about that, I definitely wanted to be a part of it.