4 Minutes With…Brent Erickson, Executive Vice President, Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO)

Best known as the czar of all things industrial biotech at BIO — less known as a former aide to Wyoming Senator Alan Simpson, and as a distinguished artist.

Tell us about your organization and it’s role in the Advanced Bioeconomy.

BIO is the world’s largest trade association representing biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development and commercialization of innovative industrial and environmental biotech processes.

Tell us about your role and what you are focused on in the next 12 months.

The BIO Industrial and Environmental Section will be focused on helping create a robust biobased economy. This includes preserving the RFS, supporting federal and state policy that will help our member companies commercialize advanced biofuels and renewable chemical processes, insuring new feedstock pathways are approved and new feedstocks are developed. In addition, we will be focused on making sure the Farm Bill is properly implemented and that adequate funding is available for DOE, DOD, and USDA bioenergy and biobased product programs.

What do you feel are the most important milestones the industry must achieve in the next 5 years?

• Robust commercialization of cellulosic biofuels.
• Progress in commercializing drop-in biofuels.
• Growing the renewable chemical sector.
• Ensuring that technologies such as synthetic biology are not derailed.
• Developing viable climate change solutions.
• Establishing commercial scale dedicated energy crops.

If you could snap your fingers and change one thing about the Advanced Bioeconomy, what would you change?

If i could change one thing it would be for the oil industry to be a full fledged participant in the development of a bio-based economy instead of a passive or even hostile player.

Of all the reasons that influenced you to join the Advanced Bioeconomy industry, what single reason stands out for you as still being compelling and important to you?

The power of American innovation and the ability of biotechnology to bring about transformative solutions to societal problems.

You’ll be speaking at the next ABLCNext conference in San Francisco this November. What’s special about that week for you?

ABLC is a multi-faceted event. It allows me to networks with key people I may not see in person during the year.

What was your undergraduate major in college, and where did you attend? Why did you choose that school and that pathway? 

Undergrad degree was B.S. in Biology from the University Of Wyoming. UW had a strong life sciences program.

Who do you consider your mentors?

One of my biggest mentors was my former boss Senator Alan K. Simpson (R-Wyoming) who was the Republican Whip in the U.S. Senate when I worked for him. . He taught me so much about politics and legislating and how to navigate the rocky shoals of egos and constituent interests. I also learned from him the value of compromise and persistence. He is also a genuinely good human being and a very funny guy.

What’s the biggest lesson you ever learned during a period of adversity?

Never give up.

“Seven-Up” by R.B. Erickson

What hobbies do you pursue, away from your work in the industry? 

I am an avid oil painter.

What are 3 books you’d want to have with you, if you were stranded on a desert island.

Anders Zorn: Sweden’s Master Painter
A Yoga Manual
Risk Is Right: Better to Lose Your Life Than to Waste It by John Piper

What books or articles are on your reading list right now, or you just completed and really enjoyed?

Thunderstuck by Erik Larsen. (about the development of the wireless radio).
Dispatches by Michael Herr (a war corespondent about the Vietnam War)
The Red Book by C.G.Jung

What’s your favorite city or place to visit, for a holiday?

Montreal, Canada and Kuaui