Room to grow: The forest bioeconomy in Canada© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Natural Resources, 2017 Room to grow: The forest bioeconomy

© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Natural Resources, 2017

Room to grow: The forest bioeconomy

in Canada

Anne-Helene Mathey

Director, Economic Analysis,

Canadian Forest Service


Guiding questions

• What is the bioeconomy?

• Why does it matter?

• Where are the opportunities?

• How can these be realized?

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What is the forest bioeconomy?

http://www.cepi.org/what_a_tree_can_do

What a tree

can do:


What is the bioeconomy?

• Economic activity based on the production of bioenergy and bioproducts– ranges from low tech to high tech

– includes the established bioeconomy, such as wood products, pulp and paper

– includes the “new” bioeconomy, such as innovative advanced materials, bioplastics, but also essential oils and other chemicals derived from wood

“Forestry is on the leading edge of technology and setting the pace on environmental performance.” - The Honourable James Carr, Minister of Natural Resources, 2016


The bioeconomy has many benefits

Bioenergy is already the second largest source of renewable energy (after hydroelectricity) in Canada. In 2000, there were five biomass-powered community heat projects in the country. By 2014, that number had grown to 150 projects.

• Provides low- or no-waste alternatives for non-renewable resources, including fossil fuels

• Reduces GHG emissions and fights climate change

• Accelerates Canada’s transition to a clean energy future

• Provides development opportunities and jobs

• Increases competitiveness, efficiency, value-added for forest products


Clean Funding Platforms

Inclusive Growth

Greening Government

Operations

Pan Canadian

Framework

1. Low Carbon Economy Fund (ECCC)

2. Sustainable Technology

Development Canada Fund

3. Green Infrastructure (INFC)

Bioeconomy interplay: Building synergies

between government initiatives

Canadian Council of Forest Ministers

– Forest Bioeconomy Framework

1. Communities and Relationships

2. Supply of Forest Resources and

Advanced Bioproducts

3. Demand for Advanced Forest

Bioproducts and Services

4. Support for Innovation

• Indigenous Forestry Initiative

(CFS)

• Clean Energy for Rural and

Remote Communities- (CFS)

• Carbon pricing (ECCC)

• Clean Fuel Standard (ECCC)

• All government departments


Forests and Indigenous rural communities

• Fast growing, young workforce

– 11 565 Indigenous people employed in the forest sector (2016)

• Located near resource development activities

– 70% of Canadian Indigenous communities in forested areas

• Increasing Indigenous-held forest tenures opening new economic development opportunities

– Indigenous-held tenure volume increasing

• Communities have greater presence in decision-making, want long-term benefits from development activities, including forest management Photo Credit: Whitesand First Nation, ON


Different local contexts, different bioeconomy

opportunities

Advanced Building Systems for tall or modular buildings

Non-timber forest products and products from harvest residues

Renewable energy for heating or fuel

Advanced materials and platform chemicals: Lignin and derived chemicals, nanocellulose


NRCan-CERRC: Bioenergy

Sourced outside the community

GHG emissions

Spills and local pollution

Costly to supply and maintain

From Diesel Fuel… …to Bioenergy

Harness local forest resources

Improved environmental outcomes

Create local economic opportunities

Build local capacity

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Reconciliation

Economic Growth

Climate Change

remote forest-based Indigenous communities are off-grid. Many have traditionally relied upon diesel. Faced with long heating seasons, a reliable

energy source is critical.

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NRCan-IFI: Non-timber forest products (NTFP)

Partner: Timiskaming First Nation (QC)

Location: Abitibi-Témiscamingue region of Quebec

Project: Assess the economic potential of non-timber forest products for this community and neighbouring First Nations.

IFI funds: Over $200K for economic analysis for 6 potential products identified through feasibility studies, with promising results.

Will allow the proponent to develop operational planning, hire youth harvesters and establish a NTFP business.


GoC: Forest residues – Pellets and biochar

Partners: Airex Energy (Quebec) and the Gitxsan Development Corporation

Support provided by: Government of Canada, through Sustainable

Development Technology Canada (SDTC), and province of Quebec

Location: Hazelton, BC

Project:

Planning a 100,000 tonne per year capacity torrefied pellet facility. Production is targeted for export to Asian markets. Would be largest of its kind in North America.

Utilizes a proprietary technology called CarbonFx™ which allows for production of multiple products alongside torrefied pellets, including biochar. Current production capacity is 15,000 tonnes per year of torrefied pellets made using recycled wood.

Biochar is a carbon-rich material. It can be made from sawmill waste, such as chips and other wood residues. Existing sawmills can be retrofitted to create products like biocoal and biochar, with many potential applications such as air filters, fertilization, or decontamination.


It takes many to succeed

FPInnovations

Universities and

Colleges

Companies

International Organizations Indigenous

Communities

Entrepreneurs

ENGOs

Federal Innovation Agencies

Other Innovation Providers Canadian

Council of Forest

Ministers

Provinces


Thank you!

Canadian Forest Service

Natural ResourcesCanada

Anne-Hélène [email protected]

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mailto:[email protected]


NRCan initiatives can support communities to take

advantage of these opportunities

Upstream

science

Pre-commercial

R&DCommercialization

Forest Innovation

ProgramEnhanced inventory

Fibre solutions

Investments in Forest Industry

Transformation Program

Market

development

Expanding Market

Opportunities

Program

Solution

deployment

Indigenous

Forestry Initiative

Green Construction

through wood

Clean Growth

Program

CanmetEnergy Labs

Clean Energy for Rural and Remote

Communities

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Documents

Room to grow: The forest bioeconomy in Canada© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Natural Resources, 2017 Room to grow: The forest bioeconomy