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About Us

The Ontario Biomass Producers Co-op (OBPC) is working to create profitable biomass markets for Ontario farmers. Our mission is to capture and develop economically and environmentally sustainable biomass supply chains, and to secure fair returns for our members.

OBPC facilitates sales of raw materials, investigates new market opportunities, advocates for the biomass industry, and participates in biomass research.

We are currently exploring:

• Marketing opportunities
• Production of purpose grown biomass crops
• Harvesting of crop byproducts
• Transportation and storage issues
• Structure and financing options for a biomass production co-operative
• Biomass for the production of plastic products
• Animal Bedding (dairy, pet market etc.)
• Biomass as a substrate for mushroom farming
• Quality mulch for landscaping and vegetable farming

Follow Us On Social Media (@ONbiomass)

Benefits of Biomass

Biomass refers to organic material derived from plants and animals that can be used in a variety of ways, including as a source of energy, for livestock bedding, garden mulch, and erosion control.

Some reasons to grow and use biomass crops such as switchgrass and miscanthus include:

• Diversifying your farm operation – biomass crops can provide an additional source of income, whether sold as a raw material or processed into other products or for energy.
• Good way to use marginal land where traditional crops may not thrive.
• Increased carbon sequestration.
• Exciting market opportunities – new uses are constantly being found for biomass crops to replace less-sustainable materials.
• Renewable energy source

Want to become an OBPC member? See here for more information.

For inquiries about purchasing switchgrass, please email sales@ontariobiomass.com.

For general inquiries, please contact info@ontariobiomass.com or call 519-986-7544.

Funding Opportunities

The Ontario Agri-Food Research Initiative (OAFRI)

• The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing an additional $3.5 million in the Ontario Agri-Food Research Initiative (OAFRI) to support the development and adoption of new technologies for farmers, food processors and agri-businesses that will enhance their competitiveness and growth. Funded through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) between Ontario and Canada, this additional intake will support investments in the applied research, pilot and demonstration, and knowledge translation and transfer streams.
• OAFRI has a number of funding streams to support research and innovation projects aimed at providing solutions for Ontario’s agri-food sector (such as new knowledge, technologies, products or practices). The streams are categorized based on technology readiness levels (TRLs). Use the TRL as a reference to determine the appropriate OAFRI stream for your application. The streams are:
  • applied research
  • pilot and demonstration
  • commercialization
  • knowledge translation and transfer (KTT)

More details from the link, Ontario Agri-Food Research Initiative (OAFRI)

A virtual information session is being held Tuesday, October 29th, 2:00 – 4:00 pm. Register here.

OBPC Board of Directors