Farmers in Quebec and throughout Canada will be able to harness new market opportunities and get better prices for their crops thanks to a new and innovative research network funded by the Government of Canada. The Cellulosic Biofuels Network (CBN) will provide expertise, new technologies and processes that increase the efficiency and reduce the economic costs associated with the production of cellulosic ethanol, especially from agricultural biomass.
The Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of National Revenue and Minister of State (Agriculture) was at the Soils and Crops Research Development Centre today in Québec to announce that CBN will receive $19.9 million in funding. This assistance is being provided through the Agricultural Bioproducts Innovation Program (ABIP). The research done by CBN will make possible the creation of biofuels from agricultural waste, and that will help Canadian farmers seize new market opportunities in the energy sector.
“Our Government wants to advance agricultural research that will help create economic development opportunities and deliver concrete results for our farmers,” said Minister Blackburn. “This major research will not only help advance our cellulosic ethanol production, but will also help our farmers increase their income by producing new crop varieties designed specifically for the energy market.”
CBN brings together participants from Concordia University, the University of Ottawa, the University of British Columbia, the University of Saskatchewan, the Université de Montréal, the University of Alberta, the University of Toronto, Ryerson University, the University of Ontario Institute of Technology and FPInnovations.
ABIP is a program designed to integrate Canada’s talent from universities, industry and government in order to stimulate creativity, leverage resources, reduce costs and accelerate progress towards the commercialization of bioproducts and bioprocesses.
