Energy is a critical input in sustainable growth and development of both developed and developing countries. The world’s energy requirement for transportation is met from non- renewable fossil fuels. India’s energy demand, which was nearly 700 mtoe (million tonnes of oil equivalent) in 2010, is expected to cross 1500 mtoe by 2030. Its dependence on imports is expected to increase from 30 per cent to over 50 per cent, suggesting the need for a new way forward. Fastest depletion of fossil fuels, ever increasing crude oil prices, burgeoning population growth, increased concern over drastic climate change and consequent global warming, has forced nations to shift from fossil fuels to renewable alternative sustainable energy resources to solve the aforementioned problems. In this context, biomass (including agronomic residues, forestry and paper mill discards, the paper potion of municipal waste, and dedicated energy crops), are the cheapest among the candidates to be considered as an energy source. Biomass resources are available locally in plenty, requires less capital investments for conversion, reduces green house gas emissions and  create employment opportunities in rural areas. Generally the tropical biomass encompasses carbohydrates (75%) and lignin (20-25%) and hence termed lignocellulosic biomass and is, unfortunately, a heterogeneous and recalcitrant material which is highly resistant to depolymerization. Many microorganisms have evolved repertoires of biocatalysts (cellulases, hemicellulases, ligninases, etc.) which act in tandem to decompose the various components of lignocellulosic biomass. Successful and economical biological conversion of lignocellulosics to fuels and chemicals under biorefinery approach depends on key technologies in the production pathway and a major role is held by biocatalysts. Search, development and use of such novel biocatalysts in a biorefinery can maximize the value derived from biomass feed stocks. Apart from biofuels production from tropical biomass, resource recovery of the non-cellulosic component of biomass such as lignin and hemicelluloses would make the process economical. Bioproducts such as acrylic acid, vanillin, poly hydroxyl butyric acid and ring opening products from lignin is interesting to many industrial sectors.  Similarly, furfural, xylitol, acetic acid, and lactic acid are possible targets for commercialization from hemicellulosic component of the tropical biomass, and the latter can be further converted to acrylic acid. It is also important that pre extraction of hemicelluloses components from woody biomass for development of targeted bio products. Above all, cellulosic derived materials and fine chemicals are ranked top and becomes feed stocks for various chemical and pharma industries benefitting humans and society.

In the light of these, an international conference on SUSTAINABLE UTILIZATION OF TROPICAL PLANT BIOMASS: BIOCATALYSTS, BIOPRODUCTS AND BIOREFINERY from biomass will offer a novel educational opportunity, which will address important biorefinery-associated issues and provide state of the art view of this emerging field.

This conference will provide a scientific forum involving experts from international as well as national level for addressing utilization of tropical biomass for nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals with a focus on involvement of novel biocatalysts and their role in conversion of biomass, important bioproducts derived from biomass and how the integration of many value-added components to the biomass utilization program would improve the economy of biorefinery. This conference will bring together stakeholders and biomass specialists for informal networking, program planning and formal educational opportunities that meet effective biomass utilization. Finally, the issues and challenges in biomass utilization will be resolved as recommendation for implementation which will  be passed on to the government and policy makers.