On October 3, 2008, the University of Guelph officially opened the Bioproducts Discovery and Development Centre. Here researchers will revolutionize the use of agricultural products, turning soy, wheat, corn and other crops into everything from car parts and furniture to fuel.
The Future of the Global Economy: Crops
The Bioproducts Discovery and Development Centre will produce greener bioproducts to substitute non-renewable materials in many manufacturing sectors, consumer goods and services. This includes turning crops into renewable biofuels to run vehicles and into resins, polymers and tough fibres for the production of biobased materials, which will reduce dependency on petroleum materials.
These biomaterials can be used for everything from car parts and furniture to building materials to new kinds of rubber. And unlike current products, plant-based biomaterials are more eco-friendly, and the crops produce them are completely renewable.
"It’s a whole new way of looking at agriculture," said centre director Prof. Amar Mohanty, an international leader in the field of biomaterials. He holds the $3-million Premier’s Research Chair in Biomaterials and Transportation, part of the Ontario Research Chairs program.
"This new centre will help Ontario facilitate a transition to a biobased economy, and it positions Guelph as a world leader in the field of bioproducts."
