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USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development Xochitl Torres Small to Keynote Plant Based Products Council’s Inaugural Conference
March 16, 2023
Washington, D.C. – Today, the Plant Based Products Council (PBPC) announced Xochitl Torres Small, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary for Rural Development, will keynote PBPC 2023 Annual Conference: Circular Solutions.
PBPC 2023: Circular Solutions will take place at the JW Marriott in Washington, D.C., from Monday, Mar. 27, to Wednesday, Mar. 29, 2023. Owned and produced by PBPC, the association’s inaugural conference will explore the innovations, business models, and policies influencing the entire lifecycle of bioproducts in support of a robust circular economy. Attendees will hear from, and network with, industry leaders, policymakers, brands, and experts through panels, keynotes, networking sessions, and more. Under Secretary Torres Small joins more than 25 speakers at this year’s conference, including Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen, Ian Jacobson, President of Eco-Products, and Matt Gardner, Board President of the California Biomanufacturing Center.
As Under Secretary for Rural Development, Torres Small is responsible for federal investment in the development of the nation’s rural communities. This includes overseeing funding and grants for businesses, housing, schools, internet access, public safety, and healthcare, among other items. She was recently nominated as Deputy Secretary of Agriculture by President Biden. Prior to her current position, Torres Small represented New Mexico’s second congressional district. During her time in Congress, her committee assignments included the House Committee on Agriculture.
“I’m delighted to announce that Under Secretary Torres Small will give a keynote address at PBPC2023,” said PBPC Executive Director Jessica Bowman. “From the biobased feedstocks grown in rural areas to the biomanufacturing operations built in small towns, investment in the bioeconomy is a crucial part of rural economic development.”
| WHAT: | PBPC 2023 Annual Conference: Circular Solutions |
| WHEN: | Monday, Mar. 27 – Wednesday, Mar. 29, 2023 |
| WHERE: | JW Marriott, 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20004 |
| WHY: | PBPC2023: Circular Solutions will explore what it means to promote a circular economy with bioproducts with some of the industry’s most influential and visionary experts and leaders. |
| MORE: | Visit PBPC.com/pbpc2023 to learn more. |
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About Plant Based Products Council
PBPC is an association of like-minded organizations that are advocating for a shift toward a more circular bioeconomy through greater adoption of renewable, plant-based materials supported by appropriate end-of-life infrastructure. We educate stakeholders and advocate for programs and policies that will support the growth of the plant-based products industry, helping to harness its environmental and economic potential to deliver a more sustainable future. Learn more at www.pbpc.com.