WANNA GO ON A DATE?

By Paul Lansbergen.

You wouldn’t normally expect a magazine dealing with biomass to carry a column promoting a dating service.  No, we’re not actually talking about roses and champagne.  But all the same, the Canadian forest industry has launched its version of a match-making service to encourage the formation of relationships.  Specifically the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) has been setting up a meeting place to link up various sectors interested in exploring business development opportunities using wood-based bio-products.

The idea of the BioPathways Partnership Network had its genesis in the Future BioPathways report, a first-of-its-kind comprehensive study undertaken by FPAC in partnership with FPInnovations, academics and others to assess the possibilities inherent in the new bio-economy. The results confirmed that Canada’s forest products industry can extract more value from every tree and by doing so position the sector to excel in the 21st Century bio-age. The report found that integrating new bio-technologies including bio-energy, bio-chemicals and bio-materials within the traditional forest products industry mills will enhance the industry’s product mix, add value and maximize the “triple bottom line” – clean energy, high employment and economic recovery.

The potential is enormous.  The study opened our eyes to new possibilities and new opportunities for producing these unconventional products – it identified a global market for bio-products that could reach $200 billion by 2015.

However taking advantage of that vast market doesn’t just require forward thinking – it requires deep pockets and strategic investments.  The federal government has recognized the potential by announcing smart programs such as the $1 billion Pulp and Paper Green Transformation Program (PPGTP) and the Investment in Forest Industry Transformation program (IFIT).

But a helping hand from government is not enough, especially in these challenging economic times.  Industry itself is also rising to the challenge but found it’s not easy to go it alone.  That’s where the Bio-Pathways Partnership Network comes in. Companies in the forest, energy, chemicals, rubber, auto, aerospace, technology and investment capital sectors have joined to foster business-to-business relationships.  Other stakeholders including government, research organizations and other networking groups can act as observers. Activities could include arranging expert speakers at workshops, hosting webinars, compiling research or visiting research facilities.  But above all, Network participants are meeting face to face, scoping out the possibilities,  exchanging ideas, and ultimately of course, preparing the groundwork to make deals to exploit the economic opportunities of the new bio-age.

Why not partner the auto parts or aerospace industry with forest companies to produce lightweight plastics for airplanes or cars that reduce the part’s weight and therefore reduce the consumption of fossil fuel?

Forest companies are already producing about two-thirds of their energy requirements from biomass, and are starting to pump surplus production into existing energy grids to heat homes. What other possibilities are there to turn today’s pulp mills into the bio-refineries of the future?

Are chemical companies willing to partner on the production of new cutting edge intelligent bio-active papers that could change colour when they come into contact with bacteria or enhance food freshness?

How can Canada capitalize on its leading role in producing nano-crystalline cellulose from trees that could be used in everything from bullet-proof vests to replacement bones for humans?

What other possibilities are there to work with pharmaceutical companies?  With textile producers using dissolving pulp? With nutrition companies interested in “green” food additives?

Many of the possibilities be it energy, chemicals or advanced materials are being commercialized today.  There are also countless more coming down the pipe offering endless investment and partnering opportunities.   And remember these are all products of the highest environmental quality coming from a renewable resource harvested by world-leading progressive forestry practices, which makes these products extra attractive in an increasing discerning international marketplace.

The Network was only established in March of this year  but it has already grown significantly with about 200 organizations now engaged.   Daishowa, Dow and Dupont.  Lockheed Martin and Lignol, a lignin extraction technology company.  Woodbridge Foam, an automotive parts company using biomass. Vertichem, a green chemistry company.  Newalta, a waste conversion company.  The list goes on and the numbers continue to grow. FPAC has even been active internationally, courting partnerships in the United States, Europe and Asia.

Everyone agrees that we are on the cusp of an exciting new future for a sector that has existed long before Confederation.  The forest industry has a fresh face that is “green”, innovative and now looking for partners.   

We can’t really tell you what kind of relationships are now blossoming thanks to our dating service. But we can say that companies are indeed wooing or checking each other out to see if they’re compatible and ready to connect.  And we’re also convinced that these budding collaborations aimed at new products, new technologies, and new markets are going to be a win-win economic opportunity. So if you want to be set up with others interested in forest derived bio products – the BioPathways Parthership is the dating service for you!

More on the bio-pathways network can be found at: http://www.fpac.ca/index.php/en/bio-pathways-network/

Paul Lansbergen is the Association Secretary for FPAC and the Lead Director for Regulatory Affairs.  He leads the Biopathways Partnership Network and in his spare time is learning to manage his woodlot.