CANADA:
A Destination for Bio-based Industry
Here we are in 2012 and 12 years into the 21st century, the century encompassing a shift to the bio-economy and where we are at in the movement to a Green and Sustainable Technology initiative in Canada. This whole sector has been driven by environmental, energy security, economic and regulatory forces. On a global basis, it has attracted investors and government support in the millions.
In Canada, we have seen the movement to biofuels, ethanol and biodiesel over the last 10 years, and that movement will continue to grow over the next 10 years, but with some shift to the use of cellulosic biomass (agriculture and forestry).
From a research and development standpoint beyond biofuels, Canada has been stellar in biomaterials, bio-process efficiencies and alternative crops. In 2011, we also have seen the entry of Rentech and BioAmber into the Canadian market with a commercial focus. These two companies have moved Canada into a commercial scale of bio-based chemicals, and 2012 should see an expansion to more companies moving to commercialization.
We have seen EcoSynthetix, a bio-based latex polymer business, establish their head office and research base in Ontario in early 2011 and do an IPO in August for $100 million.
In forestry, we saw the formation of FIBRE, a network of 8 research networks, creating an overall network of several hundred researchers and most Universities across Canada. This puts Canada in a good position to maintain a leadership position in forestry and effect change to new technologies.
Within SCA, we have completed 11 investments as of December 2011 including EcoSynthetix and BioAmber. More recently, investments were completed with Vive Crop Protection and S4C02, both outlined in this issue. With committed funds of $5.2 million from SCA, the companies have seen actual funds invested at that point in time of approximately $140 million. The benefits have been 200 plus direct jobs created and companies moving toward commercialization in Canada.
This effort has led to BIC establishing an international conference which will be held March 26-28, 2012 (in Sarnia, ON) and is titled Bringing “Bioproducts to Market: Overcoming Risks to Commercialization”. The conference is a must attend for those involved in bio-based chemicals and bioproducts.
2012 will be building off a good year in Canada's bio-economy, as the foundation was established in 2011. SCA and BIC look forward to helping build off the foundation this year.
Sustainable Chemistry Alliance
Dr.Murray McLaughlin, President & CEO
1086 Modeland Rd. Sarnia, ON N7S 6L2
murraym@suschemalliance.ca
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
SCA Investment:
Vive Crop Protection Formulations Aim to Reduce Environmental Impact
The SCA's recent investment in Toronto-based Vive Crop Protection will help the company bring its innovative products to market. Vive's formulations are designed to give producers the ability to increase crop yields safely while reducing the use of...
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SCA Investment:
S4CO2 Inc. Transforms Waste Gas into High Value Co-products
Solutions4CO2 Inc. is looking at plant locations in Sarnia-Lambton and aims to locate its demonstration facility and global headquarters here in the near future. Currently based in Toronto, the company has received joint financial support that includes the...
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BIC International Conference March 26-28, 2012:
Assessing Risks to Commercialization of Biochemicals and Bioproducts
The international conference of the Bioindustrial Innovation Centre in Sarnia-Lambton will focus on Bringing Bioproducts to Market - Overcoming Risks to Commercialization. The conference, to be held at the Holiday Inn in Sarnia (Point Edward) on March 26-28, allows participants to....
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