What is it?

Bioproducts and the Bioeconomy

Bio-based industries have been widely heralded as the new engine of environmentally-sustainable economic growth. As the name implies, a prominent feature of such industries will be the replacement of processes and products based on non-renewable resources, such as fossil fuels and minerals, with those based on living organisms. Examples of bioproducts include ethanol and biodiesel for energy, polyols derived from vegetable oils and used for polyurethane foams, and various fibres used in composite materials. Agriculture, as the form of human activity most engaged in managing biological systems, is strategically-positioned for a central position in this new economy.

Economic Benefits

The benefits of a new biomaterials industry to Ontario agriculture include: crop diversification; use of more northerly/marginal land; and increased on-farm processing for higher-value commodities. Ontario manufacturers will benefit from a reliable, local supply of renewable feedstocks for materials which consume less energy to produce, are not petroleum-based, and are amenable to recycling. Crop-based materials have the potential to not only enhance the value of existing products, but also to give rise to entirely new products and industries.