Overview
Ontario’s emerging bioeconomy is opening new markets for Ontario farmers and Ontario-grown products. A bioeconomy is a system that replaces fossil fuel based carbon with plant based carbon – converting crops like corn stalk, wheat straw, miscanthus and switchgrass into feed, fuel, bioenergy and other bio-based products.
Ontario is well positioned to support a bioeconomy with resources, innovation and drive to achieve. A bioeconomy gives Ontario farmers the opportunity to sustainably harvest fibre crops and be part of an emerging supply chain.
OFA has assisted in feasibility studies associated with crop residue collection and biomass crop production in Ontario. This includes recommended amounts of residue removal and effective processes for collection and transportation. Excessive residue removal must not occur to ensure that enough residue is being incorporated back into the soil to improve soil health.
Ontario’s bio-industry cluster has already begun to provide opportunities to farmers through a Cellulosic Sugar Producers Co-operative, which was created through a partnership with Bioindustrial Innovation Canada, Comet Bio Refining, and BioAmber. This initiative was supported through Growing Forward 2 as an Agri-Science Cluster Project.
The co-operative looks to collect over 50,000 tonnes of corn stover biomass annually from approximately 700,000 acres yielding over 150 bu/ac in southwestern Ontario. Approximately 26,500 tonnes of wheat straw will also be collected as feedstock for Comet Bio Refining.
Crop residue after harvest has been accumulating with increased yields. Surplus residues can be used as feedstock to be processed into bio- products, plastics, fuels, or gas. Low input biomass crops, such as miscanthus and switchgrass, can also be grown to feedstock Ontario’s growing bioeconomy. Other markets also exist for these products, including bedding, heating, and composting.
OFA Position
OFA supports scaling-up Ontario’s bioeconomy to increase opportunity and diversity for Ontario farmers.
OFA also supports the production of renewable natural gas, on farm or in clusters throughout the province. OFA will continue to support further opportunity for farmers in Ontario’s bioeconomy through further research and innovation, funding opportunities, policy frameworks, and scaling up of the industry.
Biomass Project
Investment in this project has been provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program (CAAP). In Ontario, this program is delivered by the Agricultural Adaptation Council.
2020
Impacts of corn stover removal on carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide emissions
2017
Cost Assessment for Cornstalk Supply Chain for Bioprocessing Purposes
2016
Corn Stover Conversion Template
Video: Predicting Biomass Yields of Corn Stover With Satellite Imaging
2015
Crop Residue R&D for Bioprocessing Opportunities in Canada
Determining Optimal Removal Rate Regional Supply of Corn Stover in Ontario
Cornstalk Harvesting Cost Assessment Report
2013
Biomass Carbon Footprint Fact Sheet
Commercial Application of Pyrolysis Technology in Agriculture
CIRAIG – Ontario Switchgrass and Miscanthus Farm Gate Carbon Footprints – Final Report October 2013
Considerations for Grading Agricultural Residue
Development of a Business Case for a Cornstalks to Bioprocessing Venture – Final Report
Assessment of Hay Crop Acreage and Pasture Land for Biomass Production in Ontario – Final Report
2012
Optimization and Scale-up of Liquid Nutrient Extraction and Recovery Process
Assessment of Business Case for Purpose-Grown Biomass in Ontario
Biomass Crop Residues Availability for Bio-Processing in Ontario
Biomass Energy Crop Densification
Environmental Sustainability Attributes of Biomass by CIRAIG-AGECO
Alternative Technologies to Transform Biomass Energy by Western Sarnia-Lambton Research Park
2011
Literature Review and Study – Energy Market Alternatives for Commercially Grown Biomass in Ont
Feasibility of Improving Biomass Combustion through Extraction of Nutrients – Cennatek Report