Each of these players in Michigan\'s bioeconomy answer the question, \"In your own words, what does the word "bioeconomy" mean?\"

"In a strict sense, it is the commerce generated from bio-based fuels and chemicals like ethanol, vitamins, amino acids, foods and enzymes. In a general sense, this would include brewing and making wine and even making chocolate."

Mark Stowers, president and chief executive officer of MBI International

"An economy that comes out of biological sources, meaning using plants, living organisms. I would change it to phyto-economy for green plants, and because it's also about pharmaceuticals."

Mariam Sticklen, crop and soil science professor

"Today almost all of our products, fuel, plastic, foods are all carbon based… What if all the carbon bases for those products came from plants (instead of oil), then that carbon would be replaced as fast as we used it. That's the bioeconomy, replacing that carbon cycle with a more sustainable resource… "

Ramani Narayan, chemical and biochemical engineering professor

"The bioeconomy would be an economy based on producing goods and services from biomass, or agricultural and plant material. Now we are truly a petroleum-based economy, down the road that will change… "

Dennis Miller, chemical engineering and materials science professor

"It's one of those terms that time will sort out… There is a lot of emphasis on trying to create bio-based products and make viable businesses. There's a way to go in that."

Tim Dempsey, East Lansing community and economic development administrator