an environment that can attract additional companies like BioAmber to locate in Sar-nia. But there is a second group of local re-sources that fill out the other key needs of the cluster. The Sarnia-Lambton Economic Part-nership takes a leading role in promoting the community to the global biochemical sector. The company encourages the infra-structure, partnership opportunities, and staff and training capabilities as the driving force for promoting the area as the destina-tion for the biochemical sector. But the co-operation received from the industry itself also plays an important role in attracting businesses to the region. “The industry wants these companies here,” says Matt Slotwinski, a coordinator with the Partnership. “They are rallying together to try and make these projects happen.” Ontario Federation of Agriculture vice-president Don McCabe has also been involved with the Sarnia biocluster, pro-viding insight on feedstock and logistics issues as a member of the BIC Board. “The number one issue for feedstock is logistics at a price,” says McCabe. “You have to have feedstock at a good price in order to make the technology economi-cally viable.” McCabe cited that there is an approxi-mate annual volume of 500,000 tonnes of sustainable feedstock available within the region. Companies looking to locate in the Sarnia biocluster can utilize that feedstock, especially as farmers in the area get a bet-ter grasp of the land use opportunities that exist in order to boost profitability. The recent establishment of the Blue-water Technology Access Centre will also provide resources for the biocluster in the form of education and training opportu-nities. Funded in 2013, Technology Ac-cess Centres enable colleges to support technological development with industry in order to become more competitive. “BTAC identifies the projects, and then we will take them to the research and technology division,” says Maike Continued on page 41 The Port of Belledune is your trans PORT ation solution to the world! www.portofbelledune.ca Wood pellets, wood chips, and all forms of wood products are handled at the Port of Belledune; not only does the port connect to strategic shipping routes, it is also an intermodal gateway with a rail spur and direct congestion-free access to a highway system spanning North America. Canadian BIOMASS 39
Canadian Biomass May June 2014: Page 39
