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Budget reinforces forestry innovation

The 2013-14 federal budget  reinforces the nation’s forestry innovation opportunity says Canada’s forest sector R&D and innovation institute.

“The 2013-14 budget recognizes that forestry R&D remains a vital engine of growth for the future”, stated Pierre Lapointe, President and CEO of FPInnovations. “Canada can point to innovations such as award-winning cellulose nanocrystal research, multi-storey wooden buildings, and cellulose filaments as clear examples of recent developments. Today’s federal budget, earmarking $92 million over two years starting in 2014-15 for the forest sector, ensures that we continue to build on these world leading successes.”

In particular, Cellulose filaments, a wood fibre-based material whose innovative extraction process was recently discovered by FPInnovations, will revolutionize the production of paper products and will be used as a re-enforcing agent in many applications from hygiene products to bio-composites and bio-plastics. In addition, early testing has indicated that cellulose filaments, when used in tissue making, may allow Canadian paper makers to manufacture superior products at competitive prices using current facilities.

Once seen as a sunset industry, the forest sector, with support from the Federal Government, has become a leader in transforming the Canadian economy by rejuvenating a traditional resource-based industry using the innovative know-how of FPInnovations. Coupled with the ambitious economic, environmental and labour targets of Vision 2020, as developed by the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC), this budget will enable the sector to further thrive while supporting thousands of jobs in communities across the country.