• Integrating new bio-technologies into existing production will ensure a vibrant future and a Canadian advantage for the forest sector

  
• There is a global bio-market opportunity of $200 billion and a bio-chemical market potential of $62 billion

  
• The Bio-economy will be responsible for 10 percent of chemical production by 2030

  
• The Canadian forest industry is poised to be a dynamic contributor to the new bio-age

  

Phase 1: Transforming Canada's forest products industry: Summary of findings from the Future Bio-Pathways Project

The Future Bio-pathways Project is a comprehensive investigation of the opportunities to produce a wide range of bio-products from wood fibre. The first phase of the study, released in February 2010, examined the economic, social and environmental benefits of integrating these new bio-technologies within the traditional forest products industry and it considered how this approach will boost employment and strengthen Canada's economy and rural communities. The project was led by the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC), with FPInnovations, Natural Resources Canada and scores of economic and scientific experts.

To view the first phase of the Bio-pathways Project "Transforming Canada's forest products industry: Summary of findings from the Future Bio-Pathways Project", and other supporting material see the list below.

View the press release →

Phase 2: The New Face of the Canadian Forest Industry - The Emerging Bio-Revolution

The second phase of the Bio-pathways project, released in 2011, examined the global market potential of emerging bio-energy, bio-chemical and bio-products, and it explored new approaches to managing value and building partnerships in this critical area. The potential market sizes are staggering. Countries and companies with the right policy frame, the desire to foster innovation and the ability to deploy the resulting technology will be poised to grab market share in these areas and experience growth rates far above those being generated by the traditional forest product sector. This is where the action is!

To view the second phase of the Bio-pathways Project "The New Face of the Canadian Forest Industry: The Emerging Bio-revolution", and other supporting material see the list below.

View the press release →

• 1

  Producing these products at forest industry facilities improves the economic results for the bio-products and forest industry facilities; It increases the job potential by up to five times versus stand-alone bio-energy plants and is environmentally beneficial.

• 2

  Numerous viable options exist to convert forest biomass to bio-energy, bio-chemicals and bio-material.

• 3

  These options are best achieved by integrating their production with the traditional forest industry.

• 4

  Markets already exist and are dynamically growing for this broad range of innovative bio-products that can be produced by extracting maximum value out of the wood fibre from every tree. These new markets will reach an estimated $200 billion by 2015.

• 5

  Canada's forest sector is already producing a range of bio-products, but it is not maximizing their contribution to the industry's bottom line.

• 6

  Integrating new bio-technologies into existing production will ensure a vibrant future and a Canadian advantage for the sector.