WILMINGTON, N.C., Sept. 9, 2015 – BioMarine, the international investment platform dedicated to the development of marine bio-resources, has announced that Dr. Mark Lyons, global vice president and head of Greater China for Alltech, Inc., will deliver the keynote presentation at the 2015 BioMarine Business Convention, to be held in Wilmington, North Carolina from October 12-14. Dr. Lyons will speak on “What We Should Learn From China,” drawing on his time living in Beijing and covering the country’s success in promoting its marine economy.

Dr. Lyons received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago in political science and environmental science, followed by a master’s degree in brewing and distilling and a Ph.D. in solid-state fermentation from Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland. He served as director of Alltech, Inc.’s North American operations from 2009-2011. Since that time, Dr. Lyons has concentrated on key international accounts and industry groups, as well as core company initiatives. He moved to China in 2012 and focuses on Alltech’s “China Now” initiative, which deepens the company’s support of the marine industry through research, education and strategic initiatives.

Alltech is a Grey Pearl sponsor of the 2015 BioMarine Business Convention, and will sponsor a breakout session covering the benefits of fish oil replacement by plant-originated oils in compounded fish feeds. In addition to Dr. Lyons’ presentation, the following Alltech executives will participate: John Sweetman, European technical manager for aquaculture; Becky Timmons, director of applications research and quality assurance, and the global technical director for Alltech Algae; and Jorge Arias, global director, aqua division.

More than 300 international investors, business leaders and government officials are expected to attend the convention, a partnership with the NCBiotech Southeastern office and the Marine Bio-Technologies Center of Innovation (MBCOI), which is being held for the first time in the U.S. this year. Senior executives, top experts and other dignitaries, including Alltech executives, will address the attendees throughout the two-day meeting, which features live-streamed sessions, workshops, and extensive networking opportunities through one-to-one pre-scheduled business meetings and social events. International representation from 12 countries throughout the world – the United States, Canada, Iceland, Ireland, the United Kingdom, France, Switzerland, Portugal, Norway, Mozambique, Australia and Saudi Arabia – are confirmed to attend.

For more information, please see the preliminary conference program here: http://www.biomarine.org/wilmington2015/program/. To register for the convention, please visit http://www.biomarine.org/wilmington2015/registration/.

QUOTES:

“We are excited that Dr. Mark Lyons, with his deep experience in the world’s number one feed-producing country, will be sharing his insights on China with us at the 2015 BioMarine Business Convention,” said Pierre Erwes, Chairman of BioMarine. “This is a wonderful opportunity for participants to learn firsthand about the advancements in production, technology, traceability and sustainability in China, a country whose evolution will certainly extend beyond its waters.”

“North Carolina’s strength in biotechnology, particularly marine biotech, makes Wilmington an ideal location for this year’s event,” said North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory. “It’s amazing to think that North Carolina now has more than 600 biotech companies that contribute more than 237,000 jobs to our economy. Entrepreneurs, scientists and educators across the state are developing marine biotech opportunities in numerous fields such as pharmaceuticals and seafood preservation. I warmly welcome participants in the 2015 BioMarine Business Convention to the Port City and to the state of North Carolina.”

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ABOUT BIOMARINE:

BioMarine is the only international investment platform dedicated to marine bio resources. The annual convention brings together 300 international investors, entrepreneurs and executives committed to innovation and collaboration in this growing global sector. In addition to acting as a platform for meetings and exchanges between industry professionals, BioMarine is above all the strategic center of action and initiatives for key stakeholders in the marine bio resources industry. Finance, research and industry stakeholders have learned to use the platform to diversify their knowledge, strengthen their existing partnerships and build new opportunities. To learn more, visit http://biomarine.org/.

ABOUT THE MARINE BIO-TECHNOLOGIES CENTER OF INNOVATION (MBCOI)

The Marine Bio-Technologies Center of Innovation’s (MBCOI) core mission is the translation of innovative marine-related discoveries into products and services to benefit North Carolina’s economy. As a powerhouse in both marine science and biotechnology research, North Carolina is poised to become a global hub for marine biotechnology in the 21st century. By combining a regional focus with a global perspective, we serve as the nexus for information, collaboration, and commercialization of marine biotechnologies among our stakeholders, both domestically and internationally. MBCOI’s nexus model will harvest economic value from NC marine biotech researchers’ creative and entrepreneurial spirit and commercialize prioritized technology platforms. To learn more, please visit http://www.mbcoi.net.

ABOUT NCBIOTECH SOUTHEASTERN

The North Carolina Biotechnology Center provides long-term economic and societal benefits to North Carolina through support of biotechnology research, business, education, and strategic policy statewide. Headquartered in Research Triangle Park, the Center has five regional offices, including the Southeastern Office in Wilmington, which focuses on marine biotech, industrial biotech, renewable bioproducts/energy, clinical research, and agricultural biotech. For more information, please visit www.ncbiotech.org.

ABOUT ALLTECH:

Founded in 1980 by Irish entrepreneur and scientist Dr. Pearse Lyons, Alltech improves the health and performance of people, animals and plants through natural nutrition and scientific innovation. Its mission is carried out by more than 4,200 team members who adhere to the company’s guiding ACE principle seeking the benefit of Animals, Consumers and the Environment in all endeavors. Headquartered just outside of Lexington, Kentucky, USA, Alltech has a strong presence in all regions of the world, doing business in 128 countries. For further information, visit www.alltech.com. For media assets, www.alltech.com/news.

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