News

Axion to support exploration of cellulosic biofuel crops by NASA

October 8 , 2008, CHICAGO, IL — Axion Business Solution, LLC's Center for Social Entrepreneurship, Grants and Research announced today the signing of a collaborative research agreement with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in collaboration with the Environmental Research Laboratory at the University of Arizona to study the potential for salt tolerant plants as a potential source of cellulosic biofuels. NASA's interest in this program is to advance finding long-term alternative fuels for space programs but the benefits of this research have importance to solving two of today's global challenges - global warming and alternative energy solutions.

Liquid biofuels can theoretically replace or supplement petroleum fuel supplies, reducing dependence on foreign oil, and reducing net carbon dioxide emissions by replacing fossil fuels with renewable sources. However, a drawback to conventional biofuel crops is that they require the diversion of farmland, pastures, and rangelands from food to fuel production. These issues have been receiving much press recently on the international scene when it comes to development and government regulation.

While, many countries including the US and the European Union have established targets for achieving levels of biofuel production, Biofuels have recently been the source of much political, economic and scientific controversy as to their sustainability due to their potential impact of food supplies and other considerations such as controversy about the impact of certain biofuels on greenhouse emissions. For example, amid these concerns, the EU Commission has recently decided not to renew a 10% fuel composition goal noting that 17% of the EU available farmland would need to be diverted to biofuel. Also, there is increasing effort to develop certification for sustainability of such biofuels.

The timing of this research could not be better says Axion's Managing Director, Rob Nelson. "The US and the rest of the developed world and emerging markets seek long-term solutions to the energy crisis, greenhouse gas emissions and alternatives to fossil fuels, yet the debate about the sustainability of such programs rages given recent claims of impact on food stock supply and prices." This research will develop the most promising halophyte crops as feedstock crops for liquid biofuel production. They key point, according to Ed Glenn, PhD the Principal Investigator for the program is that "these crops can be grown on problematic land and water supplies including arid, unfarmed coastal regions in the U.S.as an alternative to corn and other oil seed crop." Nelson further clarified "we are also mindful of the longer-term global issue of water supply for irrigation which also makes some of these crops particularly interesting due to their high salt tolerance - even germination potential in sea water."

The year-long project is intended to explore the possibility that salt-tolerant biofuel crops could be grown on land and water not currently used for crop production. These new crops can be developed from the world's halophyte flora; several thousand species of plants that grow naturally on salinities ranging from mildly saline to full seawater strength salinity. The world's halophyte flora has been extensively screened for new crops over the past 30 years, and several dozen species have been developed as new oilseed, forage, biomass, vegetable, and tree crops. The focus of this research program is to develop the most promising halophyte crops as feedstock crops for liquid biofuel production, to be grown on problematic land and water supplies in the U.S.

The benefits of this research will be specifically applicable to the arid and semiarid western region of the United States but will also be relevant nationally and even globally. While a number of potential biomass and oilseed halophytes have been identified, they have not been tested as potential feedstock for biodiesel or ethanol production. "There is no question that this research will add meaningful value to the growing body of scientific knowledge regarding potential biofuel crops - with an eye towards sustainability - both environmentally and commercially... clearly, new sources of land and water will be required if any of these biofuels are to play a significant role in the U.S. energy future" according to Stephen G. Nelson, PhD, Director of Research Programs at Axion.

While grain-derived fuel sources are more developed today, Cellulosic (biomass)-derived ethanol is perhaps less problematic than grain-derived ethanol or biodiesel in terms of available land. High-yielding biomass crops such as switch grass produce in the range of 5 tons dry matter per acre, yielding about 70 gallons ethanol per ton. Replacing imported oil with cellulosic ethanol would require about 135 million acres of productive pastureland, or larger acreages of lower-quality pasture and rangelands. Pasture and rangelands total about 450 million acres in the U.S. and they are currently the land base on which meat and dairy production depend, and they are important wildlife habitats.

Halophyte crops such as Salicornia bigelovii yield 2 tons per acre of oilseed and 10 tons per acre of biomass under seawater irrigation on coastal deserts. Others, such as Batis maritima, produce over 10 tons of dry biomass and have seeds containing both starch and oils. Hence, halophytes can be feedstock for starch- and cellulose-derived ethanol, plus biodiesel from oilseeds. Furthermore, they have high protein contents in their leaves and seeds. Halophyte protein meal, sold as an animal feed ingredient, would lower the overall cost of biofuel production by producing a high-value by-product.

Advantages to using cellulosic biomass as the raw material for biofuels include use of non-food crops, relatively low feedstock cost, use of marginal lands for feedstock growth, beneficial net energy balance, and less fertilizer and water usage, and as addressed in this research, the potential for production under seawater irrigation on coastal deserts.

Another source of liquid biofuels are biodiesels, produced from oilseed crops. Soybeans and other high yielding oilseed crops produce about 2 tons per acre of oilseed, of which about 25% is oil. Based on a yield of 80 gallons per acre, replacing imported oil with biodiesel would require 550 million acres of oilseed production, over five times the acreage currently devoted to oilseeds.

Cellulosic (biomass)-derived ethanol, however, is perhaps less problematic than grain-derived ethanol or biodiesel in terms of available land. High-yielding biomass crops such as grasses produce in the range of 5 tons dry matter per acre, yielding about 70 gallons ethanol per ton.

Axion’s Principal and Managing Director, Rob Nelson, Earns Highly Respected CAE Credential

July 5, 2007, WASHINGTON, DC— American Society of Association Executives recently awarded the CAE credential to Robert G. Nelson, MBA Principal and Managing Director of Axion Business Solutions, LLC after successfully completing the CAE examination May 4, 2007. Mr. Nelson joins more than 3,400 industry leaders worldwide who have earned the highly-competitive mark of excellence. In all, less than five percent of association professionals receive the CAE accreditation.

“Associations are only as successful as the individuals who make up their staff and membership. This class of recipients has not only demonstrated mastery of a host of association management issues but also a long-lasting interest in furthering the profession for years to come. We congratulate them on their hard work and dedication to our field and look forward to honoring them at the 2007 ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership Annual Meeting in Chicago,” said.

“Pursuing the CAE credential was most of all a statement of my commitment to lifelong learning and the industry I serve. I am honored to be included in this group of talented leaders” said Nelson.

Since its creation in 1960, the CAE program has served to elevate professional standards, enhance individual performance and designate those who demonstrate knowledge essential to the practice of association management. To earn the CAE credential, candidates must first submit an application satisfying professional experience and education requirements. Successful applicants must next pass a challenging examination on all aspects of association management. Only those individuals who achieve the designated examination score earn the CAE credential. Certification must be renewed every three years through additional studies and leadership activities.

For more details about the CAE program and exam, contact Greg Melia, CAE, vice president of credentialing and member relations, 202-626-2821 or email gmelia@asaecenter.org.

Axion Business Solutions launches practice focused on Social Entrepreneurship, Grants, Research and Development

Evanston, IL based Axion Business Solutions, LLC announced a more formal focus in the area of social entrepreneurship. Social enterprise refers to any earned-income business or strategy undertaken by a nonprofit to generate revenue in support of its charitable mission."Earned income" consists of payments received in direct exchange for a product, service or privilege. Increasingly, organizations are focused on exploring, understanding the role earned income can play in diversifying revenue sources and improving sustainability. Nonprofit organizations, like businesses, are viewed as complex enterprises requiring sophisticated management and superior leadership. Axion Business Solutions provides expertise to help organizations achieve high performance business outcomes to support their mission. “We focus our expertise in both the for-profit and non-profit world to enable their achievement of social and environmental needs,” says Rob Nelson, Principal and Managing Director. Nelson went on to say “experts who understand the intersection of business and the nonprofit mission world is becoming more and more critical to our society and its social investment. Consider, Nelson cited, that “the nonprofit sector comprises 7 percent of U.S. GDP and 5 percent of the world GDP and there are more than a million nonprofit organizations in the U.S. with an inception rate that exceeds that of private businesses”. The sector employs 8.6 million people and is supported by another 7.2 million unpaid volunteers, which together constitute round 14 percent of the labor force. Effectively managing social capital is a growing challenge considering the significance of charitable giving which, 2002 exceeded $240 billion in the U.S. in 2002. The bottom line, says Nelson, is “the need for talent in the growing social entrepreneurship movement is critical. We believe that many of the best business and entrepreneurial practices are entirely appropriate for not-for-profit mission-based organizations.”

Axion Business Solutions continues collaboration with the University of Arizona to help local organization in Molokai win USDA SBIR Funding

Axion Business Solutions has contracted and continues marketing, product development support for phase II of a USDA funded Small Business Innovation Research product development program out of Molokai. The program is designed to create a sustainable enterprise to support the local Molokai economy using an environmentally conscious aquaculture of local seaweeds grown in ancient Hawaiian fishponds. After successful completion of Phase I funding and the initial project, Axion Business Solutions provided critical support to the phase II commercialization plan. According to Ed Glen, PhD, Principal Investigator and Program Director at the University of Arizona, “Axion’s input was critical to the success of the project” All in all, a total of $380,000 has been awarded to the project, which led to other state-based funding. The project team was pleased to note that reviewer and decision maker at the USDA SBIR Program noted the commercialization/business plan as the best he had seen such a project and that the involvement of Axion Business Solutions would be critical to the success of the project. “We are excited to see the project take life from concept to reality. A number of prototype products have been produced and the research team has uncovered interesting health and beauty benefits of the seaweed that is processed naturally” Explained Rob Nelson of Axion Business Solutions. Nelson went on to say “we are currently managing the relationship with Foresight Technology who may, through additional funding by the USDA, provide web site development as part of the developing marketing plan and we have had conversations with potential retailers and wholesalers interested in supply.” Nelson also explained that the team is also exploring opportunities for social entrepreneurship between the SBIR awardee and a local not-for-profit organization in Molokai.

In February, Tucson based, Dr. Stephen G. Nelson, PhD, presented the project to the World Aquaculture Society Convention in Las Vegas. Last year, project efforts were also noted in an article in Food Navigator.com.

In related news, Axion Business Solutions has also provided consultation for a project support supporting sponge farmers on Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia through the Pacific Aquaculture and Coastal Resources Center in Hilo, Hawaii. The project focused on developing a social enterprise that compliments artisinal fishing practices via an environmentally sustainable livelihood for the people of Micronesia.

Axion Business Solutions says diversity is important to its Executive Coaching and Resource Services practice

According to Axion Business Solutions principal consultants Rob Nelson, MBA and Susan Carroll, PhD, PsyD more and more mid to senior level executives, career changers and newly self-employed representing diversity are seeking executive coaching services from those who can relate well with them. With job and career changing more prevalent than ever, increased specialization and competition those seeking to advance or spin off into their own consultancy and business are needing support counselors and advisors who offer very personalized relationships and who can understand the particular situations they are facing.

Axion Business Solutions offers Private Executive Coaching Services and Corporate Coaching Services that focus on business related outcomes that integrate holistically with their client’s personal and business goals. “We find that the ability to truly understand and relate to where a person is coming from is critical to helping be a better trusted advisor. “We are not shy of discussing any topic or concern and we have experience dealing with diversity issues,” says Nelson. “That’s not to say that diversity is the focus or our coaching work. Quite the contrary – we like to make it a non-issue. But, our clients know, up front, they can be comfortable that we’ll be receptive, supportive, knowledgeable and empathetic”. Nelson went on to say “We do now there are questions and issues out there. We have certainly come across situations where gender bias and issues involving sexual orientation have been of concern to those seeking to be successful in corporate America.” Mainly, says Nelson, more and more people representing diversity are seeking expert help in creating business outcomes on a personal level and this has been reflected in Axion’s clientele. Dr. Susan Carroll recently earned here second doctors level degree when she completed the program in Clinical Psychology PsyD program at Argosy University. Dr. Carroll possesses over twelve years of corporate experience including business and human resources including diversity issues in corporate America.