Innovation Roadmap on Bio-based Feedstocks, Fuels and Industrial Products: Highlights

The Context

The bioproducts industry includes firms that produce fuels, chemicals, materials and specialty products using biological feedstocks and bioprocesses. In Canada, approximately 75-100 companies located in almost all regions of the country undertake R&D and/or manufacturing of bioproducts. These include small, highly specialized companies, as well as subunits of some of Canada's larger companies involved in the production of chemicals and plastics, processed foods, and wood and paper products. Annual bioproduct sales amount to $100-$150 million.

A key issue for the economic viability of the industry is how to make the fullest possible use of the raw bioresource inputs and how to maximize the value-added for a range of products that can span several sectors.

The Objective

To provide private and public sector decision makers with an industry consensus on future, market-driven technology priorities, policy/regulations and outreach needs. This will enable Canadian biomass producers and companies to manufacture products from biomass sources, while developing solutions for a range of systems problems including climate change, persistent organic pollutants and management of municipal, forestry, marine and farm residues.

Key Participants

• Manufacturing: BioProducts Canada and more than 250 companies that manufacture bioproducts or biomass.
• Research: universities, federal and private labs.
• Governments: Industry Canada, Economic Council, Natural Resources Canada, National Research Council, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, provincial governments and municipalities.

Benefits and Key Results

• Increase public awareness of and engagement on bioproducts
• Establish a bioproducts industry council
• Map bioresources and integrate related databases
• Increase capital availability for biotechnologies
• Speed commercialization of bioproducts
• Promote waste recycling in eco-industrial clusters
• Encourage government procurement to include more "green" products