Biomass North back in business.

AuthorMyers, Ella
PositionForestry - Biomass Innovation Centre - Ontario Union of Indians

The Biomass North Development Centre is gaining traction and building momentum as it unrolls its completed Northern Ontario Biomass Strategy (which goes by the cheeky acronym NO-BS).

In the summer of 2014, the Ontario Union of Indians (OUI) and the Biomass Innovation Centre (BIC) operating out of Nipissing University signed a memorandum to develop a biomass strategy for the North. The aim was to fill a gap created by the closing of CANBIO, and ensure representation for small and medium bioeconomy enterprises.

The BIC was shut down at Nippissing University in May 2015, I and the plans were put on hold as the group reformed as the BioI mass North Development Centre, or Biomass North.

BIC staff Dawn Lambe and Francis Gallo were responsible for the continuation, and are now the executive director and project director, respectively. The OUI retains ownership of the strategy despite the organizational changes.

Biomass North has the same underlying focus as the BIC had: building a robust bioeconomy in Northern Ontario.

However, as a member-based sector association, Lambe said they are more driven and empowered to press for policy and regulation modernization at a government level.

Since regaining their footing, Biomass North has presented the NO-BS to trade shows, conferences and expos in Northern Ontario. Gallo presented NO-BS Biomass North's first event, the 2015 Forestry Automation Expo on Nov. 10, in Sudbury, and to Canadian and international companies at the "speed-dating" Naturallia forum later in the week.

Delegates from Sweden, Finland and Germany ran a panel on international snapshots on bioenergy development with Lambe at the forum. Lambe said the strategy is inspired by those in Europe, and especially in Nordic countries that rely on the forestry industry. Biomass North plans to send a delegation to Sweden and Denmark in May.

The strategy has four pillars: sustainable...

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