Bio-Fuel Updates

Federal government funds project evaluating barley’s potential as biofuel feedstock

    OLDS, AB, May 25 /CNW/ - A project to evaluate barley's potential in
Canada's rapidly evolving biofuels industry has received funding of $262,000
from the Biofuels Opportunities for Producers Initiative (BOPI). The funding
has been made available through the Agriculture and Food Council that
administers Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Advancing Canadian Agriculture
and Agri-Food Program.
    The three-phase Barley and Bioproducts Opportunities Project (BBOP) is
jointly funded and managed by the Western Barley Growers Association and the
Alberta Barley Commission. BBOP is supported by industry partners Syngenta
($45,000), Ceapro ($10,000), Wilbur-Ellis Canada ($2,000) and Parkland Agri
Services ($1,000). In all, BBOP will invest $380,000 in examining barley's
feasibility in a number of emerging applications; specifically, researchers
will study the opportunities and challenges growers would face to establish
regional, barley-based ethanol production facilities. The project will also
look at removing valuable fractions from barley prior to ethanol production
and using a byproduct of barley ethanol production - distilled grains - in
commercial applications, including cattle feed.
    "Barley is already one of Western Canada's most important crops due to
its role in Canada's beef industry, domestic and international malting and
brewing, and agronomic rotational management," said Doug McBain, past
president of the WBGA. "Our goal is to determine if Western Canada's barley
producers can capitalize on the crop in new, profitable and sustainable ways."
    "This project will give our members and their customers a good base of
regional technical and business information to assess their options for
investing in barley," said Terry Young, chair of the Alberta Barley
Commission.
    The project's first task will be to determine the relative
competitiveness of barley versus other major crops, by analysing ethanol yield
and the amounts of starch and sugar that can and can't be extracted. The
project will report in its initial findings in September 2007 and its final
findings in March 2008.

    The Western Barley Growers Association (www.wbga.org) and the Alberta
Barley Commission (www.albertabarley.com) are not-for-profit, member-driven
organizations that represent the interests and viability of barley growers in
Western Canada and Alberta, respectively.

    A backgrounder is posted at www.albertabarley.com and www.wbga.org.

For further information: Doug McBain, Past President, Western Barley
Growers Association, (403) 816-0645; Terry Young, Chair, Alberta Barley
Commission, (403) 391-2408

Here is a Press Release:

OLDS, ALBERTA–(CCNMatthews – May 25, 2007) – Myron Thompson, Member of Parliament for Wild Rose, on behalf of the Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board, today announced that Canada’s New Government is investing over $1 million in five southern Alberta projects to help the emerging biofuels industry.

“We are proud to announce an investment of funding in a biofuels project that could lead to new opportunities for the agricultural community in southern Alberta,” said MP Myron Thompson. “Canada’s New Government is working to expand biofuels opportunities in across the country, which is beneficial for producers, rural communities and the environment.”

Through the Biofuels Opportunities for Producers Initiative (BOPI) companies in southern Alberta are receiving funding to help evaluate barley’s potential in the biofuels industry, develop feasibility studies and business plans for biodiesel production and to assess, develop and demonstrate mobile diesel refining opportunities for western Canadian farms.

“These projects demonstrate Alberta’s commitment to our environment and our agricultural sector,’ said Marilyn Sharp, Chair of the Agriculture and Food Council, which administers the BOPI program in Alberta. “We are pleased that the federal government is providing support to help companies explore the potential for biofuel use.”

BOPI is a $20 million commitment by Canada’s New Government designed to provide farmers and rural communities with opportunities to participate in, and benefit from, increased Canadian biofuels production. The initiative helps agricultural producers develop sound business proposals, as well as undertake feasibility or other studies to support the creation and expansion of biofuel production capacity. It is delivered through the regional industry councils that administer Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food Program.

In Budget 2007, Canada’s New Government allocated $2 billion over seven years to support the production of renewable fuels. In addition, since coming to office this government has announced $500 million to assist farmers and rural communities to seize new market opportunities in the bio-economy through biofuels and bio-products initiatives.