May 1, 2007
Several announcements by the Government of Canada since late December, 2006 bode well for the emergence of projects and initiatives in biofuels and bioproducts in 2007. These include:

• Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) $200 million ecoAgriculture Biofuels Capital initiative (ecoABC) to increase renewable fuel capacity by helping agricultural producers construct or expand transportation biofuel production facilities. The four-year initiative proposes to provide repayable contributions of up to $25 million per project to help farmers overcome the challenges of raising the capital necessary for the construction or expansion of biofuel production facilities.


• $500 million to be managed by Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) for investment with the private sector in establishing large-scale facilities for the production of next-generation renewable fuels. An arm’s length, not-for-profit corporation, SDTC fills the void in the innovation chain between research and commercialization — helping clean technology developers move through the development and demonstration phases, in preparation for commercialization


• an additional $10 million in funding from AAFC for the Biofuels Opportunities for Producers Initiative (BOPI). BOPI helps agricultural producers develop sound business proposals, as well as undertake feasibility or other studies to support the creation and expansion of the biofuel production capacity. In combination with previous investments, this doubles the total BOPI funding up to $20 million over two years.


• $134 million towards the Agri-Opportunities Program, an Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) program that will focus on the commercialization of new agri-based products, processes and services. Funding will be provided for projects that can be expected to increase market opportunities for the Canadian agricultural industry across the value chain and generate demand for primary agricultural products.


• $127.5 million over two years to the Forest Industry Long-Term Competitiveness Initiative which includes promoting the forest sector innovation and investment that is needed to position the sector for the future; expanding market opportunities for Canadian wood-product producers; the development of a national forest pest strategy; a Forest Sector Council to identify and address sectoral skills and adjustment issues.


• $145 million through AAFC’s Agricultural Bioproducts Innovation Program (ABIP) which will provide support for cross-sector research networks conducting scientific research and development related to the advancement of a Canadian bio-based economy.