Industrial Biotech
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Download BrochureWHAT ARE BIOPRODUCTS?
Industrial biotechnology applies the science of biotechnology for industrial purposes, using cells, enzymes and renewable organic material for manufacturing, alternative energy creation and production, and to develop a range of sustainable biomaterials.
Industrial products are mainly everyday items: everything from auto body parts to fabrics and specialty papers. Products fall into specific bio categories: biofuels and bioenergy; biofibres and biomaterials; and biochemicals.
Environmental biotechnology uses biotechnology to transform microorganisms, plants and their components into new products. Fuel from marine algae, agricultural growth enhancers from seaweed and cellulose-based chemicals are examples of work happening in this area.
Cutting-edge Canadian firms are converting energy crops and other agricultural residues into biofibres, biofuels and bioindustrial oils – environmentally beneficial alternatives to conventional products that are as good for the economy as they are for the planet.
The Manitoba Perspective
Manitoba is ideally positioned to capitalize on the emerging bioproducts revolution and to secure a leading position in the new bioeconomy. Our province produces millions of tonnes of biomass from agriculture and forestry, and enjoys a diverse and competitive bioproducts industry, with over 20 com
panies manufacturing innovative bioproducts that range from biofuels to biobased composite materials for applications in the transportation, construction, and consumer products sectors.
Biofuels and Bioenergy
- The province has tremendous sources of feedstock to support large-scale biodiesel production. Biodiesel blended with conventional diesel fuel improves engine wear and some of the exhaust emissions from diesel engines.
- Biomass solid fuels can be found in loose form of chips, shives, hurds, or chopped straws, or in a dense form of pellets, cubes, pucks, or logs, and can be burned in stoves or boilers for heating in greenhouses, hog barns and homes.
- Bioheat represents the most cost-effective use of solid lignocellulosic biomass for energy production.
The cluster of biomass solid fuel suppliers and bioheat users in Manitoba is growing:
- Prairie Bio-Energy Inc. has developed technologies to produce 7/8 inch cubes from waste biomass;
- Flax Power in Carman is producing fire logs from flax shives;
- SWM Intl. and Keystone Grain also supply loose-form biomass for heat production.
Biofibre and Biomaterials
Manitoba has a vibrant agriculture industry supplying an abundance of biofibres including wheat, flax and hemp straw. The province has historically been a leader in processing agricultural crop residues into biomaterials:
- SWM Intl. located in Carman is a major flax decortication facility in North America and processes approximately 100,000 tonnes of flax straw annually for paper production;
- Emerson Hemp Distribution Company processes hemp straw into animal bedding and small animal nesting products;
- Plains Industrial Hemp Processing Ltd. is building a hemp fibre processing facility processing up to 18,000 tonnes of industrial hemp annually and producing a series of bioproducts including non-woven matting and fuel pellets;
- erosioncontrolblanket.com manufactures erosion control products for commercial and residential uses from wheat straw and other biofibres;
- Composites Innovation Centre (CIC) develops advanced composites technologies for manufacturing industries. The centre leads several initiatives focused on the development and commercialization of biocomposites using biofibres such as hemp and flax to replace the man-made glass and carbon fibres for advanced composite applications in buses, recreational vehicles, sporting goods and aircraft manufacturing.
Forestry Biomass
Forests make up about 65.0 million acres of the province's 135.3 million acre land base. Manitoba is home to vast boreal forests and currently support the majority of the province's forest industry, providing resources for kraft paper and lumber.
Forest biomass has the potential to contribute significant bioenergy to Canada's primary energy mix by utilizing all logging and mill wastes created by existing forest industries and use of residues not currently used in conventional forest-harvesting operations as a substitute for fossil fuels.
Our Competitive Industry
Manitoba has a unique set of business advantages that benefits the entire life sciences industry:
- A productive, well-educated and multilingual labour force;
- An extremely favourable business cost environment, including competitive office and land costs, low construction costs and affordable taxes;
- One of North America’s lowest electricity costs with highly reliable, renewable and environmentally responsible hydro-electricity;
- An extensive network of research and development facilities, supporting innovation and technology diffusion;
- A convenient mid-continent location in the North American central time zone; and
- A cost-effective transportation links and intermodal facilities providing shipping by road, rail, air and sea.
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