Ontario Announces Creation of the Forest Biomass Program

With a goal of strengthening the economy and promoting innovation in the forest sector, the Ontario Provincial Government announced on Friday (5-26-23) the creation of a new, $19.6 million (CAD) Forest Biomass Program. The Forest Biomass Program will further the government’s Forest Sector Strategy and Forest Biomass Action Plan goals to build a strong forest sector via technological innovation and greater use of forest biomass.

The application-based program will help develop untapped economic potential and environmental benefits offered by new and emerging uses of underutilized wood and mill by-products, known as forest biomass. The program has been created based on feedback from the public, Indigenous communities, and industry stakeholders, who all indicated the need for targeted support to further develop Ontario’s forest bioeconomy.

The program will be opened early this summer to applications from businesses, municipalities, Indigenous communities, and not-for-profit organizations located in Ontario that have projects to expand the use of forest biomass and enhance the forest biomass supply chain.