FPAC Bio-pathways Big BEN Using resource wealth to create a Canadian advantage in the global bioeconomy. By Catherine Cobden rom car parts to clothing to cosmetics, wood fibre is being turned into innova-tive new products and positioning the Canadian forest products industry to be a dynamic player in the growing bioeconomy. But the sector cannot transform and develop new bioenergy, biochemicals and bioprod-ucts on its own. That’s why the Forest Products Associa-tion of Canada (FPAC) first started the Bio-pathways Partnership Network aimed at ex-ploring new business-to-business ventures to help exploit the economic opportunities of the emerging bio-age. It has brought to-gether more than 250 organizations from the chemical, energy, pharmaceutical, auto, aerospace and plastics industries as well as other technology providers. The success of this network speaks to the eagerness for mu-tual co-operation in the biospace. In addition, late last year FPAC joined with eight other industry groups to form the new Bio-economy Network or BEN, a cross-sector forum supporting bio-industry. It brings together a diverse membership across the Canadian economy, including the Au-tomotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association, BIOTECanada, the Canadian Bioenergy As-sociation (CanBio), the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association, the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada, CropLife Canada, FPInnovations and the Sustainable Chemis-try Alliance. All together they represent 800 member companies, two million jobs and $266 bil-lion of total annual revenue. BEN members share a strong belief that Canada can use its abundant renewable resources of forest and agriculture residues in innovative ways to feed the bioeconomy and create solid jobs and future economic growth. And what is the bioeconomy? It unlocks the potential of Canada’s natural resources by embracing the manufacturing of a broad spectrum of products used in medical appli-F cations, diagnostics, foods, energy, chemi-cals and industrial materials from our for-est and agricultural resources. In fact, the bioeconomy is already a huge and vibrant contributor to Canadian GDP ― about $87 billion a year with an annual growth rate over the past four years of 12%. More than a million Canadians are already working in bioeconomy related jobs. The emerging global market for bio-based products is nothing less than stag-gering. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) es-timates that the bioeconomy already repre-sents one-third of the total world economy, with growth rates continuing to accelerate. Canada, with its plentiful resources, should certainly aim to get a healthy share of a glob-al biomarket opportunity estimated at $200 billion by 2020. Key trading partners and competitors have already developed comprehensive bio-economy strategies. For example, the Obama administration in the United States in April 2012 released a National Bio-economy Blue-print that lays out strategic objectives to real-ize the full potential of the U.S. bioeconomy. The European Union has released Innovat-ing for Sustainable Growth: A Bioeconomy for Europe , which highlights innovation for en-vironmental sustainability. In comparison, Canada has been moving forward slowly but surely, but in individual silos without an overall strategic frame. That’s where BEN comes in. Individual associations felt it was time to explore new business models and partnerships across sectors to enhance co-ordination, outreach and advocacy for a supportive policy envi-ronment in Canada. At the very least, this will mean improved information sharing, reduced duplication and other increased efficiencies. BEN members are hoping to demon-strate an integrated vision of the bioeconomy that will focus on the priority policy areas of investment climate; the regulatory envi-ronment, including standards; innovation; cross-sector collaborative partnerships; market diversification; and value added production. The new group wants to enhance the profile of the interests and needs of the col-lective members in supporting the emer-gence of a national bioeconomy; it wants to provide a forum for government to meet engaged and co-ordinated participants; it seeks a supportive policy framework to drive sector innovation and competitive-ness; and it wants to position Canada as a bio-investment destination within the global bioeconomy. BEN represents notable progress in breaking down traditional “silos” and the lack of co-ordination between key players in bio-industry. As the industry organizations pledge tighter collaboration, BEN wants partners in the federal government to im-prove co-ordination across key departments as well. The key is to work together. Our overall goal is ambitious – BEN seeks to work with our government partners to de-velop a comprehensive bioeconomy frame-work to unleash Canada’s natural resource advantages and serve new markets. BEN would welcome other associations to join our cause, from the mining to the agriculture to the plastics industry. Together we can turn Canada into a true powerhouse in the global bioeconomy, generating green and innovative products from our natural re-source wealth. • Catherine Cobden is the executive vice-president of FPAC. Over her 10 years at FPAC, Catherine has steered the organiza-tion’s economic and regulatory programs aimed at improv -ing the forest sector’s competitive position. She played a key role in developing the Canadian Forest Sector Transformation Strategy, shepherded the landmark Bio-pathways study and led the 2012 launch of the industry’s new Vision2020. January/February 2013 10 Canadian BIOMASS
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