Our society has developed an insatiable demand for energy and material goods. Historically, these needs have been met primarily by fossil fuels and other non-renewable raw materials. As environmental concerns grow, however, renewable resources are gaining increased attention. This paper examines the emergence and importance that biobased industries are increasingly beginning to play. A biobased enterprise, similar in concept to a traditional refinery or factory, utilizes conversion technologies to produce various products. These operations are rapidly increasing both in number as well as in capacity throughout this country, and are poised to add significantly to the nation’s energy and material supplies in coming years. Therefore, to adequately prepare engineering and technology graduates for the emerging opportunities in these areas, it is vital for them to understand this developing industrial segment and its fundamental concepts. Toward these ends, this paper will discuss several essential topics, including traditional and biobased chemicals, energy, fuels, and manufactured products; similarities between traditional and biobased industries; technical tools essential for success; relevance to engineering and technology education; and curriculum modification and incorporation techniques that can be used to achieve these efforts. The trends discussed here and their implications are critical for educators, because in coming years these industries will increasingly be used to simultaneously meet the needs of our society as well as that of environmental stewardship.