Supporting the growth and development of agricultural biomass products

LEAMINGTON, ON, /CNW/ - Canada`s agricultural sector is working hard to boost productivity, efficiency and income, while meeting the challenge of feeding the world sustainably. The Government of Canada is continuing to partner with farmers and agri-businesses to help them continue to protect our environment while keeping our economy strong and growing.

Lloyd Longfield, Member of Parliament for Guelph, on behalf of Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, today announced an investment of $499,433 to help Competitive Green Technologies research and develop a biomass-based alternative material that could replace traditional nylon in automobile manufacturing and other industries.

With technical expertise from the University of Guelph’s Bioproducts Discovery and Development Centre, the company is developing a new biocomposite material from resin and natural fibres derived from agricultural waste. This new biocomposite material could be used by the automotive industry to produce stronger, more environmentally friendly car parts using more renewable content at a lower cost. The use of agricultural residues to produce this biocomposite material could lead to new economic opportunities for farmers.

Quotes

“The Government of Canada is proud to support companies like Competitive Green Technologies who use cutting-edge technologies to create innovative environmentally friendly products that will help to green the Canadian economy, while offering new value-added opportunities for farmers. By investing in innovative activities such as these, our Government is demonstrating our commitment to meeting our climate change targets through supporting clean growth in the agriculture sector.”

- Lloyd Longfield, Member of Parliament for Guelph

“AAFC funding is instrumental in supporting the development of innovative and sustainable biobased materials. We are delighted to collaborate with Ontario-based Competitive Green Technologies on this project. Together we are creating greener materials from agricultural wastes and residues to advance bioeconomy in reducing greenhouse gases.”

- Prof. Mohanty, Director BDDC and Premier’s Research Chair in Biomaterials & Transportation of the University of Guelph

“We are really happy to have created an impact by working with AAFC on this project - Nano-enhanced, Ag biomass-based hybrid bio-composites for light-weighting automotive. AAFC funding has resulted in an industry needle-mover. As a farmer and President of Competitive Green Technologies, I am absolutely delighted to see the value-add to agriculture through this innovative technology break-through.”

- Mike Tiessen, President of Competitive Green Technologies

Quick facts

• The bioproducts sector ranges from biofuels and biochemicals to biobased automotive applications. Currently, the global bioplastics and biocomposites sector is coming out of its infancy and capturing the plastics market at a growth rate of 30% annually.
• Competitive Green Technologies develops and commercializes green technologies to lower the carbon footprint through compounding biocomposite resins using agricultural non-food, non-forest crops. The company has gained international attention for their biotechnology research.
• This investment was made under Growing Forward 2’s AgriInnovation Program – Research & Development stream, that ended on March 31, 2018.
• Similar projects will be supported under the new Canadian Agricultural Partnership’s AgriScience Program, a five-year (2018-2023), up to $338 million initiative, that aims to accelerate the pace of innovation by providing funding and support for pre-commercial science activities and cutting-edge research that benefits the agriculture and agri-food sector and Canadians.

Additional links

• Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
• AgriScience Program (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
• Competitive Green Technologies

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SOURCE Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada