CANADA (News release) -- The Government of Ontario, Canada, is creating new opportunities in the forest sector and strengthening regional economies with an initial $1.5 million in funding for projects under the new Forest Biomass Program. These investments will develop the untapped economic potential and environmental benefit of new and emerging uses of underutilized wood and mill by-products, collectively known as forest biomass.

Each project supports new and emerging uses of forest biomass, the mill by-products from manufacturing, bark, shavings and sawdust, as well as trees or above-ground tree parts unsuited in the production of other forest products. The program's initial investment of over $1.5 million will leverage funding from industry and other funding programs to advance 15 research, innovation and modernization initiatives. The 15 projects include:

• Harvest Bioindustrial Group and Lavern Heideman & Sons ($120,000), to study and increase the use of underutilized hardwoods to produce biochemicals and other products. (Burlington, Pembroke)
• Infinite Carbon Corporation ($197,600) to increase the use of birch and poplar wood and support development of new and innovative technology that has potential to reduce carbon emissions in industrial steel production. (London, Nanticoke)
• Roseburg Forest Products Canada Ltd. ($100,000), to improve supply chain resiliency, support forest sector diversification and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by exploring energy production using forest biomass. (Pembroke)

These new projects will increase the use of Ontario's forest resources while developing new technologies, improving productivity and providing environmental benefits.

First announced in May 2023, the Forest Biomass Program is providing a $19.6 million investment in projects to harvest more Crown wood, create forest sector jobs and regional economic growth and find new uses for wood in collaboration with stakeholders, industry and Indigenous communities.

#pulpandpaper