Grant: Strategic Projects - Group

Biomass usage, specifically capturing energy from biomass that would otherwise decay, is one of many options available to mitigate the impact of the buildup of GHG emissions from fossil fuel utilization. Canada has vast amounts of under utilized biomass in the form of agricultural and forestry residues that can be collected and converted. The potential availability of large cultivable land also provides the opportunity of producing dedicated crops to ensure the viability of the emerging bio-industry in Canada. The high costs associated with collection and transport of biomass is one of the main barriers for use of both forest and agricultural resources.  This research proposes the development and application of a biomass supply simulation model to identify innovative, sustainable, and cost effective supply options for biomass in Canada. To this end, we have assembled a small multidisciplinary team with forestry and agricultural expertise to provide advise on model development, contribute to model validation, and participate in technology transfer.  The project is divided  into three highly inter-related tasks of model development, validation, peer review and publication. The three highly inter-related  tasks will progress concurrently with a tight administrative structure.  The plans to train at least three graduate students and one post doctoral fellow during its three year tenure.  BIOCAP Canada Foundation has committed to contribute $66,000 and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has committed to contribute $45,000 cash and $15,000 in-kind to the total project budget of $389,100 over three years. Forest Engineering Research Institute of Canada (FERIC) which is an industry/government  sponsored organization contributes an additional $30,000 in-kind.