Feds invest in industrial bioeconomy to reduce GHG emissions

Canada’s federal government is investing approximately $6,592,913 to Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC) through the AgriScience Program – Clusters Component, an initiative under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

The Bioproducts Cluster, led by BIC, will develop specialized technologies that turn renewable resources, such as agricultural residues, into useful bioenergy, biofuels, and biomaterials like ethanol and biodegradable plastics. The Clusters Component, under the AgriScience Program, supports projects intended to mobilize industry, government and academia through partnerships and address priority national themes and horizontal issues.

In an Aug. 19 news release, the government said the research activities aim to support the transition to a renewables-based economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). “This will be achieved by improving biomass production, developing new bioproducts from Canadian crops, and turning by-products into value-added bioproducts,” the release said.

“BIC is pleased to receive support from AAFC to continue to support the development of emerging technologies that provide benefit to Canada and Canadian farmers,” said Meaghan Seagrave, BIC’s executive director. “Canada’s agriculture sector represents significant opportunities for development and commercialization of bioproducts through green chemistry. Integrating agricultural feedstocks and downstream bioproducts into a variety of industry value chains will not only increase Canada’s agriculture opportunity but support industrial decarbonization. The Cluster supports project activities that focus on biochemicals, biomaterials, biofuels and energy, as well as novel agricultural tools and practices that will assist in providing sustainable feedstocks and co-products into these applications. These technologies provide added and alternative value opportunities to the sector, complement existing traditional value chains, and support industrial decarbonization, lowering the overall carbon intensity of all sectors involved.”

BIC previously received $5.5 million in funding through the Growing Forward 2 framework and another $11.2 million through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership framework.