FPAC welcomes federal government’s investment in bioeconomy

Earlier today, Canada’s Minister for Natural Resources, the Honourable Seamus O’Regan, launched a call for proposals under the Investments in Forest Industry Transformation (IFIT) program. Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) welcomes these federal investments to help advance Canada’s forest sector bioeconomy and low-emission energy future, while creating and maintaining jobs in communities across the country.

Canada’s forest sector has made significant investments in technologies to reduce wood waste, pursue opportunities for next-generation bio-refinery capabilities, and to develop new bioproducts. Industry and government investments in research and innovation such as the IFIT program have led to a multitude of new bioproducts that displace more carbon intensive materials, reduce emissions, and create jobs – including the recent development of the world’s first biodegradable mask by Canadian researchers at FPInnovations – made from Canadian wood fibre.

“There is no path to a net-zero carbon economy without Canadian forestry solutions – and these solutions are anchored in our commitments to sustainable forest management and accelerating innovation,” said FPAC president and CEO Derek Nighbor. “For years, IFIT has been key in helping Canadian companies compete to win in the fiercely competitive global forestry innovation space. It supports made in Canada innovation to accelerate forest bioeconomy solutions, helps us create new products, and will provide new market and job opportunities for Canadians.”