Scientists, entrepreneurs and business leaders gathered November 5 in Lexington for Kentucky’s first statewide Conference on Natural Products Innovation.

The conference, sponsored by the University of Kentucky’s Natural Products Alliance (NPA) and Kentucky Tobacco Research and Development Center (KTRDC), highlighted research and commercialization of naturally-derived, value-added products.

“New technologies are developing to take advantage of diverse natural products derived from plants or other natural sources, and these include medicines, food flavorings, cosmetics and a host of products that have potential marketability,” said Maelor Davies, KTRDC director.

“The conference is an excellent opportunity for participants to network with colleagues and learn why Kentucky is poised to be a leader in natural products,” said Gabriel Wilmoth, NPA coordinator. 

The conference showcased start-up companies, raised awareness of opportunities, fostered partnerships within the natural products community and provided a forum for discussion of state and federal support for commercialization of research.

Featured speakers included Bill Brundage, Kentucky’s Commissioner for the New Economy; David Lohr, director of the Virginia Bioscience Development Center in Richmond, VA; and Jo Anne Goodnight, National Institutes of Health SBIR/STTR Program Coordinator.

The NPA and the KTRDC are operated by the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture.