Ontario Announces Forest Biomass Program Funding

The Government of Ontario announced on Tuesday (1-30-24) that is investing $9.4 million (CAD) in 14 research, innovation, and modernization initiatives to develop the untapped economic potential and environmental benefits of new and emerging uses of underutilized wood and mill by-products, collectively known as forest biomass.

According to Ontario’s Natural Resources and Forestry Department, forest biomass is used in everything from food additives to building materials. It also has many emerging uses, including renewable natural gas, bioplastics, and hydrogen—responsible alternatives to carbon-intense products.

According to the press release, the following projects will receive funding from the $19.6 million Forest Biomass Program, which supports initiatives that harvest more wood from Crown forests, increase forest sector job creation and regional economic growth, and find new uses for wood in collaboration with stakeholders, industry, and Indigenous communities.

• Modernization funding stream:
  • Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper Mill (Thunder Bay) – $5,000,000
  • Biopower Sustainable Energy Corp. (Atikokan) – $997,500
• Innovative Bioproduct Manufacturing funding stream:
  • Whitesand First Nation (Thunder Bay) – $1,289,573
  • FPInnovations (Thunder Bay) – $250,000
  • Rutter Urban Forestry (Thunder Bay) – $245,000
• Indigenous Bioeconomy Partnerships funding stream:
  • Cat Lake First Nation (Sioux Lookout) – $250,000
  • Jason Mattson 2538745 Ontario Ltd. (Atikokan) – $250,000
  • True North Trucking (Thunder Bay) – $250,000
  • Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek First Nation (Nipigon) – $250,000
  • Lac Seul First Nation (Sioux Lookout) – $237,280
  • Lake Nipigon Forest Management Inc. (Nipigon) – $200,000
• Exploring Biomass Pathways funding stream:
  • FPInnovations (Thunder Bay) – $100,000
  • Greenmantle Forest Inc. (Thunder Bay) – $62,500
  • Lakehead University (Thunder Bay) – $32,000

A complete description of each product can be found in the original source.