| Memphis has a troubled and yet long history with the development of natural
"green" products including cotton fiber, wood products, and other materials
from the farm and forest. The exploitation of labor through slavery and
sharecropping, as well as the mismanagement of natural resources has led to
intellectual poverty which has kept the region from truly developing creative
economic opportunities. This legacy has led to a disconnection from the land by
African Americans which damages the foundation of future economic
development. Despite the negative history, the Memphis region offers many
opportunities to capitalize on the emerging green economy, including an
increasingly active entrepreneurial focus, workforce development initiatives,
existing biofuels and bioproducts businesses, local food movement, the ability
to produce agricultural materials, and inbound/outbound logistics. This panel
will explore these opportunities and give specific action items to move beyond
the past and fully embrace a future of creative enterprise.
Moderator: Pete Nelson – BioDimensions
Ronne’ Adkins – Shelby County Clean Air Coalition
Alycia Carter - Office of Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) |