Canada’s Bioeconomy Strategy: Leveraging our Strengths for a Sustainable Future.

This Canada’s Bioeconomy Strategy is a nationwide multi-sectoral document aiming at calling to action Governments and the industry to seize the opportunities of an industrial bioeconomy that has competitive advantages for the country including access to biomass, global leadership in forestry and agriculture, sustainable resource management, and a skilled workforce. The Vision of the Strategy is to promote the highest valorization of Canadian biomass and residuals while promoting the objectives of a reduced carbon footprint and effective stewardship of natural capital for generations. Although the bioeconomy covers all sectors and systems that rely on biological resources, this document relies on biotechnology and is focused on industrial biotechnology that replaces the traditional chemical processes with more sustainable biological processes.
The Strategy recommends action on four key priority areas (1) Creating agile regulation and government policy; (2) Establishing biomass supply and stewardship of the natural capital including agricultural and forestry; (3) Building strong companies and value chains; and (4) Building strong sustainable innovation ecosystems with an emphasis on value chain creation, job training and skills development. For each of these areas, the Strategy lists a number of interventions. For area 1: (i) improve regulations and the pathways to regulatory approval; (ii) improve existing standards and create new ones to help industry innovation for biomaterials, bioplastics, animal feed, etc.; (iii) improve matchmaking and support for developing anchor companies and existing SMEs; (iv) provide support to companies to build markets and enter global value chains. For area 2: (i) support the transformation of resource management and development practices for biomass, biomass conversion and residuals; (ii) encourage the development, adoption and integration of innovative Industry 4.0 technologies within traditional bio resource industries; (iii) increase knowledge of quality, quantity and location of biomass. For area 3: (i) increase support for firms commercializing new products, new practices, new processes and new technologies; (ii) improve institutional understanding of value chains, critical business paths, valuation, credit-worthiness and risk for bio-products and biomaterials projects; (iii) improve resources for early stage companies and their investors; (iv) implement policy that supports the diffusion of bio-innovations through government procurement. For area 4: (i) support talent needs including the need for reskilling, skills development, and labor market needs of this emerging sector; (ii) support the development of the bioeconomy ecosystem; (iii) recognize Indigenous peoples as key players in resource-based projects.