Join us for an engaging discussion covering topics such as the productivity of working forests, biotechnology and technology innovations, forest fiber for sustainable packaging, and high-value biochemical products from forests. We welcome you to join us for the workshop programming, as well as our Fellows’ poster session.
May 11-12, 2026
This two-day workshop brings together researchers, industry partners, and practitioners to examine how Southern forest systems can support resilient, sustainable bioproduct value chains. Sessions will move from forest health and productivity, to biotechnology and enabling technologies, and finally to packaging, chemicals, and other high-value forest-based products.
Registration Open
Click below for more information. Registration will close April 30th.
RBI 2026 Spring Workshop
Bill Moore Student Success Center
225 North Ave NW, Atlanta, GA 30332
In partnership
Georgia Forestry Association & Georgia Forestry Foundation
Resilience &
Productivity
for Forest
Systems
Bioeconomy &
High-Value
Products
Agenda
May 11
| Time | Topic | |
| 9:00 a.m.–12:00 pm. | RBI Industry Advisory Board Meeting (invitation only) |
1:30–5 p.m. | Resilience and Productivity of Working Forests
| Time | Topic | Speaker |
| 1:30–1:40 p.m. | The Southern Forest for Future Fiber and Chemicals Supply – Potential and Threats | Carson Meredith Executive Director Renewable Bioproducts Institute |
Challenges to Southern Forestry
| Time | Topic | Speaker |
| 1:40–1:55 p.m. | Overview of Southern forestry operations | Tim Lowrimore President Georgia Forestry Association |
| 1:55–2:30 p.m. | Impact of forest health on Southern forestry productivity | Caterina Villari Associate Professor University of Georgia |
| 2:30–3:05 p.m. | Southern forest in the Circular Bioeconomy | David Weston Oak Ridge National Laboratory University of Tennessee |
| 3:05–3:20 p.m. | Break |
Biotechnology Solutions
| Time | Topic | Speaker |
| 3:20–3:55 p.m. | Genomic approaches to engineered resilience and productivity | Gary Peter Professor University of Florida |
| 3:55–4:30 p.m. | In vitro propagation techniques for trees | Scott Merkle Professor, Forest Biology University of Georgia |
| 4:30–4:45 p.m. | AI supported automation technology for scalable production of future forest trees | Ulrika Egertsdotter Principal Research Scientist Renewable Bioproducts Institute |
| 4:45–5:00 p.m. | Unraveling the potential of the forest microbiome for tree propagation | Joel Kostka Professor School of Biological Sciences |
| 5:00–6:00 p.m. | Reception and poster session | |
| 6:00 p.m. | Adjourn |
May 12
| Time | Topic | |
| 8:00–8:30 a.m. | Networking breakfast |
8:30 a.m.–12 p.m. | Forest Fiber for Sustainable Packaging
| Time | Topic | Speaker |
| 8:30–9:05 a.m. | Forest Fiber for Sustainable Packaging | Patricia Stathatou Assistant Professor School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering |
| 9:05–9:40 a.m. | Forest Fiber for Sustainable Packaging | Ashok Ghosh R&D Manager Smurfit Westrock |
| 9:40–10:05 a.m. | Networking break | |
| 10:05–10:40 a.m. | Forest Fiber for Sustainable Packaging | Dan Coughlin Senior Leader Oak Ridge National Laboratory |
| 10:40–11:15 a.m. | Forest Fiber for Sustainable Packaging | Michael Joyce Senior Associate Principal Engineer Mondelēz International |
| 11:15–11:50 a.m. | Forest Fiber for Sustainable Packaging | Joel Kostka Professor School of Biological Sciences |
| 12:00–1:00 p.m. | Lunch (provided) |
1:00–4:30 p.m. | High-Value Biochemical Products from Forests
| Time | Topic | Speaker |
| 1:00–1:35 p.m. | High-Value Biochemical Products from Forests | Andreas Bommarius Professor School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering |
| 1:35–2:10 p.m. | High-Value Biochemical Products from Forests | Valerie Thomas Professor School of Industrial and Systems Engineering |
| 2:10–2:45 p.m. | High-Value Biochemical Products from Forests | Larissa Fenn Director Rayonier Advanced Materials (RYAM) |
| 2:45–3:10 p.m. | Networking Break | |
| 3:10–3:45 p.m. | High-Value Biochemical Products from Forests | Sanket Gandhi Chief Executive Officer BioPrincipia, Inc. |
| 3:45–4:30 p.m. | Panel / Round Table | |
| 4:30 p.m. | Adjourn |
Interested in Partnering with Us
Contact Belinda Vogel to explore how your organization can engage with us.
Hotels
The Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center is located in the heart of Atlanta’s Technology Square at 800 Spring St. NW Atlanta, GA 30308. Click the button below to make reservations, get directions and find information on the nearby attractions including restaurants and activities. In addition, Georgia Tech has partnered with a variety of nearby hotels to provide discounted rates to our visitors. View our hotel list and pricing on our Campus Travel page.