{"690507":{"#nid":"690507","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI) Spring Workshop Highlights Advances in Renewable Materials ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/renewablebioproducts.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ERenewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)\u003C\/a\u003E at Georgia Tech hosted its Spring 2026 Workshop, \u201cResilient Forests to Renewable Futures,\u201d on May 11 and 12. The workshop brought together university researchers, scientists, and industry partners to discuss new developments shaping the future of the bioeconomy.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPreceded by an Industry Advisory Board meeting, the two-day workshop focused on how renewable materials, biotechnology, and advanced manufacturing can support more sustainable industrial systems. Discussions throughout the event explored topics ranging from forest health and biotechnology innovations to sustainable packaging and high-value biochemical products derived from forest resources.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOpening the workshop, RBI Executive Director \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chbe.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/j-carson-meredith\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ECarson Meredith\u003C\/a\u003E emphasized the institute\u2019s focus on interdisciplinary collaboration and real-world impact.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOur goal is to catalyze a community of researchers who focus on solving real-world challenges by investing in team building across interdisciplinary boundaries,\u201d Meredith said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMeredith also highlighted the growing need to create higher-value products from renewable resources in addition to traditional commodity materials.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat focus connected closely with updates on Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/renewablebioproducts.gatech.edu\/research\/center-for-renewables-based-economy-from-wood\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ECenter for a Renewables-based Economy from Wood (ReWOOD)\u003C\/a\u003E. The center supports research aimed at turning sustainable plant-based materials into products such as aviation fuels, specialty chemicals, solvents, and pharmaceutical ingredients while strengthening connections between research and industry.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESeveral presentations focused on improving the long-term health and productivity of working forests. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/warnell.uga.edu\/directory\/people\/caterina-villari\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ECaterina Villari\u003C\/a\u003E from the University of Georgia and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ornl.gov\/staff-profile\/david-j-weston\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EDavid Weston\u003C\/a\u003E from Oak Ridge National Laboratory shared research aimed at protecting trees from diseases such as fusiform rust and brown spot needle blight. Their work combines biotechnology, genetic screening, and artificial intelligence tools to help identify tree varieties that are more resilient to disease and environmental stress.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe workshop also explored how forest fibers can be used to create more sustainable packaging materials. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chbe.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/patricia-stathatou\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EPatritsia Stathatou\u003C\/a\u003E from Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chbe.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ESchool of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E presented research on manufacturing methods designed to reduce water and energy use in paper and packaging production.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIndustry speakers discussed the challenges of bringing those materials into large-scale manufacturing. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/michael-joyce-phd\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EMichael Joyce\u003C\/a\u003E, Senior Associate Principal Engineer at \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.mondelezinternational.com\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EMondel\u0113z International\u003C\/a\u003E, emphasized that paper-based alternatives must still meet the strength, durability, and performance standards required for existing packaging systems.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAdditional discussions focused on how forest-derived materials can be used to create higher-value products beyond traditional paper and lumber applications. Speakers highlighted a growing interest in converting wood residues and byproducts into specialty chemicals, fuels, and biomaterials that can strengthen the long-term economics of renewable manufacturing.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/larissafenn\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ELarissa Fenn\u003C\/a\u003E from \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ryam.com\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ERayonier Advanced Materials\u003C\/a\u003E discussed the company\u2019s work converting wood-derived materials into natural prebiotics for livestock. In collaborative studies with researchers at the University of Georgia, the products improved livestock gut health and feed efficiency while performing similarly to traditional antibiotics in certain diseased conditions.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe workshop also included a student poster session and networking event, giving attendees an opportunity to engage directly with RBI Fellows and researchers working across renewable materials and manufacturing research.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u201cWhat made the workshop especially valuable was having people from different backgrounds and sectors all in the same room looking at these challenges from different perspectives. Those conversations are what move ideas from research into real-world applications,\u201d said Meredith. \u201cRBI will continue to host these workshops as part of our commitment to interdisciplinary research advancing the bioeconomy. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/renewablebioproducts.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ERenewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)\u003C\/a\u003E at Georgia Tech hosted its Spring 2026 Workshop, \u201cResilient Forests to Renewable Futures,\u201d on May 11 and 12. The workshop brought together university researchers, scientists, and industry partners to discuss new developments shaping the future of the bioeconomy.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI) at Georgia Tech hosted its Spring 2026 Workshop, \u201cResilient Forests to Renewable Futures,\u201d on May 11 and 12."}],"uid":"36757","created_gmt":"2026-05-27 14:01:16","changed_gmt":"2026-05-28 17:03:11","author":"ychernet3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-05-27T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-05-27T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680365":{"id":"680365","type":"image","title":"Screenshot-2026-05-28-at-11.58.47-AM.png","body":"\u003Cp\u003EFrom left: Carson Meredith, Blair Brettmann, Andreas (Andy) S. Bommarius, Ulrika Egertsdotter, Joel Kostka, Titiksha Fernandes and Chris Luettgen.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1779987698","gmt_created":"2026-05-28 17:01:38","changed":"1779987775","gmt_changed":"2026-05-28 17:02:55","alt":"From left: Carson Meredith, Blair Brettmann, Andreas (Andy) S. Bommarius, Ulrika Egertsdotter, Joel Kostka, Titiksha Fernandes and Chris Luettgen.","file":{"fid":"264621","name":"Screenshot-2026-05-28-at-11.58.47-AM.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/28\/Screenshot-2026-05-28-at-11.58.47-AM.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/28\/Screenshot-2026-05-28-at-11.58.47-AM.png","mime":"image\/png","size":9375345,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/05\/28\/Screenshot-2026-05-28-at-11.58.47-AM.png?itok=0oINCaZC"}}},"media_ids":["680365"],"groups":[{"id":"372221","name":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:ychernet3@gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EYanet Chernet\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECommunications Officer\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}