ST2-02: Progress by the Canada-based Bioconversion Network in Developing the Forest-based Biorefinery Concept

Canada is fortunate to be endowed with a rich forest resource that has made it the world’s largest exporter of solid wood and other forest products such as pulp and paper. However, traditional products such as newsprint and writing paper are either being replaced by electronic alternatives or their markets are not expected to grow substantially, while other countries such as Brazil, Indonesia, etc., can grow trees faster and cheaper! In response the Canadian government has supported a network of university networks (FIBRE) with each network focused on complementary R&D areas that will help evolve the Canadian forest sector to become a key part of the future Bioeconomy.  The NSERC Bioconversion network brings together researchers from 6 of Canada’s universities working together on the various stages of a biomass-to-fuels and chemicals process. The four main themes of the network are; Pretreatment and Fractionation, Enzyme hydrolysis, Fermentation, and coproducts/process economics/LCA. The approximately 50 researchers within the network (including graduate students) are advised by a Scientific Management Committee and a Board composed of representatives from industry, government and academia. As well as “traditional” forest products companies, potential partners such as equipment suppliers, oil, chemical and enzyme companies are also involved in the biorefinery research projects of the network. The presentation will describe the Canadian BioPathways project, the development of the FIBRE (Forest Innovation By Research and Education) network of networks and the research focus and progress of the NSERC Bioconversion Network in particular.