Biomass Quality Network Canada (BQNC):
Agricultural Biomass Quality Standards for the Biochemicals,
Bioenergy, Biofuels and Biomaterials Sectors
Lin-P’ing Choo-Smith
Composites Innovation Centre
July 26, 2017
Problem:
• Emerging bioproducts based on agricultural biomass are slow to be adopted in the marketplace
• What is needed to facilitate commercialization of bioproducts?
• Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada’s Industrial Bioproducts Value Chain Committee: quality standards and measurement techniques are required as a key enabler in the commercialization of biomass into bioproducts
• Sectors: biomaterials, biochemicals, biofuels and bioenergy
Background on BQNC
• For industry to adopt biomass for their use, they need to be assured that it meets their minimal quality requirements
• For farmers to produce biomass using specific agronomic practices, they need to know that they will be providing biomass of a certain quality to ensure that there is an appropriate return on investment
• For the bioproducts market to evolve, there needs to be methods to link end user requirements to biomass types, sources and processes
3
Biomass Quality – Why?
Response:
• Initial consortium group formed in January 2015 and was connected through an MOU
• Project proposal submitted to AAFC’s AgriMarketingAssurance Systems Stream program – funding approved (Feb. 2016-Mar. 2018)
Formation of BQNC
The bioproducts industry is considered to be segregated into the following sectors:
• Biochemicals are produced from bio-based inputs to supplement petroleum based inputs, specifically focused on industrial chemical markets
• Bioenergy is the conversion of biomass into heat and power, replacing traditional methods such as petroleum, coal and nuclear fuels
• Biofuels are obtained by converting biomass into liquid or gaseous fuels such as ethanol, biodiesel, biogas and hydrogen
• Biomaterials are processed or engineered materials that are fully or partly derived from biomass
Bioproducts Definition
BQNC Steering Committee
Name Organization
Sean McKay* Composites Innovation Centre
Alvin Ulrich Biolin Research Inc.
Donald Smith McGill University
Élaine Grignon Centre de Recherché sur les grains (CÉROM) inc.
Jeff Kraynyk Manitoba Agriculture
France Brunelle** Ministére de l`Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l`Alimentation du Québec
Glenn Payne Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
Joe Hogue Straw Logic
Kim Shukla Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance
Lin-P’ing Choo-Smith** Composites Innovation Centre
Lori-Jo Graham Alberta Agriculture and Forestry
Murray McLaughlin Bioindustrial Innovation Canada
Nathalie Legros National Research Council Canada
Pam Ominski** Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Steve Sharples CSA Group
Tam Tekle TTS
William Meyer Renewable Industries Canada
* Chairperson** Observer
Sub-Committees
• Biochemicals Sub-CommitteeName Organization
Anne Waddell BioAmber Inc.
Donna Fleury Alberta Agriculture and Forestry
Jonathan Curtis University of Alberta
Murray McLaughlin Bioindustrial Innovation Canada
Ray Bergstra* MTN Consulting Associates
• Bioenergy Sub-CommitteeName Organization
Ataullah Khan Modammed Alberta Innovates Technology Futures
Babak Owlam* CSA Group
Dennis St. George Manitoba Hydro
Harvey Chorney / Lorne Grieger PAMI
Naresh Thevathasan University of Guelph
Sebnem Madrali Natural Resources Canada
Stephane Gauthier Biovalco Inc.
Victor Cheng Alberta Agriculture and Forestry
*sector lead
*sector lead
Sub-Committees
• Biofuels Sub-CommitteeName Organization
Bridgette Duniece Permolex Ltd.
David Bressler University of Alberta
Jean-Michel Lavoie Université de Sherbrooke
Jeffery Cottes Government of Manitoba
Stu Porter* Biofuels Consulting Canada
William Meyer Renewable Industries Canada
Name Organization
Alvin Ulrich Biolin Research Inc.
Byron James Alberta Innovates Technology Futures
Denis Rho National Research Council Canada
Jianbo Lu Alberta Agriculture and Forestry
Joe Hogue Straw Logic
John Wolodko University of Alberta
Lin-P’ing Choo-Smith* Composites Innovation Centre
Mahendra Thimmanagari Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
Mark Stumborg Swift Innovation
Mercedes Alcock Composites Innovation Centre
Minh-Tan Ton-That National Research Council Canada
Tam Tekle TTS
• Biomaterials Sub-Committee
*sector lead
*sector co-lead
*sector co-lead
• Cross-section of ~45 stakeholders from:
– industry
– farmer groups
– biomass processors
– federal departments: Natural Resources, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, National Research Council, Canadian Standards Association
– 5 provincial governments
– academia
BQNC
Within the bioproducts industry, we are:
• Identifying and prioritizing gaps in quality standards
• Creating a database to record and link to existing standards information
• Developing standards where gaps exist
• Becoming a Canadian focal point (www.bqnc.ca) for communications and coordinating activities with national and international standards organizations
Quality Standards for Industrial Bioproducts - Objectives
Contact Information
www.bqnc.ca
Sean McKay & Lin-P’ing Choo-Smith
204-262-3400