Agenda

1 Stone Road W., Guelph Ontario, January 23, 2013

Registration and Networking (6:30 pm- 7:00 pm)

“The Cents in Ontario Biomass – Budding Opportunities in an Emerging Biomass Market”: Presentation by Nick Betts, OSCIA (40 minutes, including Q&A)

1. Biomass in Ontario
   The agricultural biomass industry has been developing in Ontario for over a decade, with various ventures and opportunities coming and moving by. 2013 presents a state where the industry is maturing and requires the input and cooperation of individuals and corporations across the spectrum of agriculture, aggregation, manufacturing and retail to succeed. What these options are, where they exist, and what the state of these markets at a global level can be deceiving and hard to evaluate. This presentation will discuss some of the challenges and successes in this developing market.
2. OBPC Growers’ Guide
   Introduction of the document, talk about sources, desire to make a “one-stop” document for farmers.
3. Membership Development
   Coming together as a united, farmer-driven front (Cooperative) and approach industry, clearly stating your current abilities, ramp-up abilities and potential with more members.

Introduction of Biomass Posters by UofG Students (5 minutes)

Break for Networking and Poster Presentations (15 minutes)

“The Challenge of Connecting the Biomass Sectors” (75 minutes)

A Panel Discussion – co-moderated by Ian McDonald, OMAFRA and Jim Todd, OMAFRA

Panel members:

• Murray McLaughlin – Executive Director at Bioindustrial Innovation Center
• Charles Lalonde – Ontario Federation of Agriculture & CJ Agren Consulting
• Barry S. Wortzman – VP Business Development at Greenfield Ethanol
• John Kelly – Vice President, Erie Innovation and Commercialization
• Don Nott – Owner, Nott Farms and Switch Energy Corp.
• Ralph C. Martin – Prof. at UofG, Loblaw Chair in Sustainable Food Production

The panel will address Market Opportunities, Business Models, Developing Relationships in the Value Chain and Environmental Opportunities along the value chain.

The audience has an opportunity to cover these hot topics in an interactive format with a panel of biomass industry insiders.

Within this forum we will attempt to shed more light and look for answers to questions like:

• How can we engage biomass producers with end customers and players in the value chain?
• What are the attributes that manufacturers require in a feedstock?
• How can we leverage existing environmental opportunities, practically and market wise?
• How can we raise more effectively the awareness and knowledge of our biomass crops within the larger agricultural and industrial community?
• How can we improve the profile of our crops to become a highly desirable feedstock for bio-based products?
• How can we learn from existing and successful Ag value chains?
• Which biomass applications have the best earliest and best opportunity of opening profitable markets for producers and industry?
• How can we convince the vast majority of farmers, who are passively sitting on the sideline, to join early adopters and become active participants in a new biomass industry?

Annual General meeting (45 minutes)

Registration

1. Welcome
2. Recognition of the 2012 Board of Directors
3. President’s RemarksFormal Meeting

Formal Meeting

1. Approval of the Agenda
2. Approval of the Minutes of February 8, 2012
3. Financial Reports/Financial Review – David Lyons
4. Appointment of Reviewer for 2013
5. Elections of New Directors (4 positions for 3 year terms, 2 positions for 2 year term  and one position for a one year term, as well as one associate member as an adviser)
6. New Business