Scaling Up 2020: Bioeconomy Development Zones

Scaling Up 2020: Bioeconomy Development Zones

Ecostrat is proud to be the Platinum Sponsor for Scaling Up 2020: Canada’s 5th annual industrial bioeconomy business conference.

Below, Jordan Solomon chairs a panel discussion on “Bioeconomy Development Zones: Driving Bio-Based Investment in Canada.” This panel included insights from former Cabinet Minister Ralph Goodale, Ron McCullough from the City of Melville, Martin Pudlas from Red Leaf Pulp, and John May from HamiltonClark.

SUMMARY OF PANELIST REMARKS

Jordan Solomon (CEO, Ecostrat)

• “Canadian biomass is an economic development engine: 132,000 jobs and nearly $31 billion of economic benefit.”
• “The City of Melville was recently accredited as Canada’s first BD Zone.”
• “Red Leaf Pulp is looking at Melville to locate its first-of-kind $300M wheat straw-to-pulp plant.”
• “There are hundreds more potential BD Zones in Canada… rolling out the BD Zone program to accredit them will unlock tremendous bio-based investment for Canada.”

Ralph Goodale (Canada’s UK High Commissioner; former Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Foods, Minister of Natural Resources, Minister of Finance, Minister of Public Works)

• “Serious investors need to be ready to roll. That’s where the idea of the Bioeconomy Development Zones can be really helpful.”
• “Bioeconomy pilot projects can pay farmers for their waste and offset job losses in the coal sector.”
• “The bioeconomy is not a threat, it’s an opportunity to create jobs and profit.”

Ron McCullough (City Manager, The City of Melville)

• “The City of Melville approached the BD Zone initiative because we are interested in attracting clean technology opportunities to Melville.”
• “Agricultural biomass projects are an excellent addition to the economy and culture of our community.”

Martin Pudlas (CEO, Red Leaf Pulp)

• “BD Zones create a circular economy, promote domestic manufacturing and expand Canada’s expertise in green economy.”
• “The first $300M Red Leaf Pulp plant will create 285 direct and indirect jobs in Saskatchewan.”
• “Three prairie provinces alone could generate $4.3 billion in value from cereal grain straw.”

John May (Managing Director Renewable Energy Investment, Hamilton Clark)

• “The Biomass Supply Chain Risk Standards are one of the great analytical frameworks that the biosector has seen.”
• “A BD Zone Designation makes it easier for investors to feel less at risk regarding sustainability investments.”

To learn more about the speakers, or to view the entire Scaling Up program, please visit https://www.scalingupconference.ca/.

Originally published at bdozone.org.