BPI has been a long-standing partner of the Sustainable and Alternative Fibers Initiative (SAFI Consortium) in their joint research project on the development of alternative sustainable fibers for bio-based products. This project has been partially supported by the USDA SunGrant project.
On January 17th, the SAFI Consortium hosted a successful in-person meeting at North Carolina State University (NCSU), which was attended by Dr. Qingshi Tu and Dr. Orlando Rojas representing BPI. Dr. Tu reported that the visit provided him with a valuable opportunity to connect with other researchers and industrial partners in the field of sustainable bio-based fibers production.
During his visit, Dr. Tu learned about the ongoing Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) research at SAFI and had in-person discussions with the LCA team. These discussions generated new insights and inspirations for future collaboration on developing a consistent LCA framework for evaluating the climate benefits of bio-based fibers.
The meeting was well-attended by industrial partners, which provided a unique opportunity for researchers to share their findings and receive feedback from industry perspectives. Through discussions with representatives of leading companies in the field, Dr. Tu was able to align his research focus with the industry's most pressing analytical needs. He was impressed by the strong engagement from industrial partners, which he sees as critical in accelerating the research and development of new technologies to meet market demands.
Additionally, Dr. Tu was pleased to see the involvement of students in the organization. The networking opportunities with industry partners provided a great benefit for the students, helping to bridge the gap between academia and industry.
In conclusion, the partnership between BPI and SAFI Consortium continues to be strong and productive, providing valuable opportunities for researchers and students to collaborate with industry leaders in the development of sustainable and alternative fibers for bio-based products.
