AGRO-BIOMASS CAN FUEL CANADIAN INDUSTRY
CANBIO, January 2009
Building regional agricultural co-operatives to supply agro-biomass to industry is a huge opportunity waiting to happen, according the Canadian Bioenergy Association. Municipalities and farmers need co-operative models so they to build a bulk supply and stable supply chain that industry can rely on.
> Read more: http://www.canbio.ca/articles.php#article6

FOOD FOR THOUGHT
P. Neroth, Engineering & Technology, June 2008, p. 52
As biofuels are being heralded as the answer to transportation pollution, more questions than answers still exist.  While there are many advantages to biofuels, there are also challenges.  Second generation technologies and challenges are discussed.
> Read more: http://kn.theiet.org/magazine/issues/0810/food-for-thought.cfm

FROM DIGESTION TO DISTRIBUTION
Ryan C. Christiansen, Biomass Magazine, February 2009
Power companies in dairy regions have known for years that there is a distributed source of energy underfoot: cow manure. Using anaerobic digestion, manure can be converted into biogas and combusted in a generator to produce electricity. However, anaerobic digesters aren’t cheap. It takes collaborative funding and diligent project management to bring multiple anaerobic digesters on line within a power district—and that’s just the beginning.
> Read more: http://www.biomassmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=2406

HEMP, SUNFLOWER AND FLAX TO PRODUCE FOOD AND FUEL
BioEnergy Canada, February 2009
Barrie, Ontario-based Oilseed Works Inc. has taken a unique approach to resolving the food versus fuel debate.  The company has developed two product lines called Hempola and Flour Power which produce both food and fuel from specific oilseed crops such as flax, sunflower and hemp. Using the oil derived from its feedstocks, the company produces biodiesel and mills the remaining materials to produce highly nutritious flour that can be used to make a variety of foods including breads, crackers, cookies, pasta, pizza dough and more.
> Read more: http://tinyurl.com/aewgs8

MANAGING AND ENHANCING SWITCHGRASS AS A BIOENERGY FEEDSTOCK
R. Mitchell, et al., Biofuels, Bioproducts, & Biorefining, Nov-Dec 2008, p. 530
The U.S. DOE has identified switchgrass as a viable feedstock for cellulosic ethanol production.  In fact, although switchgrass bioenergy research has been going on since 1990 at their Lincoln Nebraska location, switchgrass research in general has been conducted there since the 1930s.  A significant amount of genetic and agronomic research data has already been accumulated and is directly applicable to use as a biomass energy crop.
> Read more: http://hdl.handle.net/10113/22906

TURN WASTE WOOD INTO HOME HEAT
S. Maxwell, Mother Earth News, Feb/Mar 2009, p 66
Wood is a great renewable heating option and pellet stoves are a convenient, eco-friendly method of home heating that may save you money, too.  This article reviews pellet stove heating technology, fuel, and costs.
> Read more: http://www.motherearthnews.com/Renewable-Energy/Heat-Your-Home-With-A-Pellet-Stove.aspx

WAR ON WASTE
D. Stiles, Engineering & Technology, Nov-Dec 2008, p. 48
The incineration of waste for power is gaining popularity in the U.K. due to the commitments to meet the Landfill Directive and divert waste from landfill disposal.  The tax on landfill use went up by a third last April.  Use of traditional mass-burn technology rather than new technology is reflective of the fact that energy from waste is more about waste capacity than power generation.  A short dicussion of energy-from-waste technologies is included.
> Read more: http://kn.theiet.org/magazine/issues/0820/war-waste-0820.cfm

BIOFUELS: A MAJOR RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY
F.L. Leistritz, N. Hodur, Biofuels, Bioproducts, & Biorefining, Nov-Dec 2008, p. 501
This perspective addresses the rural development implications of developing a cellulosic biofuels industry to meet current mandates.  Although biofuels development is assumed to be a boon for rural economies, this assumption has not been quantified.  In this article, the authors from North Dakota State University compare the economic contribution (impact) of a biomass-based ethanol plant with that of a corn-based facility.    The cellulosic bioreinfery has a much greater contribution because the feedstock payments represent new income for farmers and others in the supply process, whereas corn has alternative markets.
> Contact the ITC Library to obtain this article.

THE SD TECH FUND™ WILL BE ACCEPTING STATEMENTS OF INTEREST FROM FEBRUARY 25 TO APRIL 22, 2009.
SDTC’s SD Tech Fund™ invests in late-stage development and pre-commercial demonstration of clean technologies by Canadian companies.  Eligible projects must focus on the development and demonstration of new technologies that address issues of climate change, clean air, water and soil quality. The projects must be undertaken primarily in Canada. The Statement of Interest (SOI) is an initial application used for preliminary screening and is subject to a competitive review process by SDTC and a panel of independent experts.
> Read more: http://www.sdtc.ca/en/SOIinfo.htm

BC BIOENERGY NETWORK AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT TECHNOLOGY CANADA TO PROMOTE AND EXPAND BC BIOENERGY SECTOR
BC Bioenergy Network News Release, January 29, 2009
The BC Bioenergy Network (BCBN) and Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) have entered into a strategic agreement to further the development and commercialization of bioenergy technologies in British Columbia. The partnership will identify high-caliber projects within the BC bioenergy sector with the goal of increasing the number of investment opportunities.
> Read more: http://www.bcbioenergy.ca/_news/news_2009_01_29.html

MINNESOTA MAKES STRIDES WITH BIOMASS POWER
Dan Emerson, BioCycle, December 2008
Minnesota is home to several large-scale projects working to replace fossil fuels with biomass heating. New projects include the University of Minnesota-Morris biomass research and gasification facility, a turkey-litter fueled power plant, and a farmers’ co-op gasifying agricultural residues. At peak capacity, the plant will burn 3,000 pounds/hour of biomass material, generating 19 million BTUs for the campus.
> Read more: http://www.jgpress.com/archives/_free/001780.html#more

ONTARIO COAL-FIRED POWER PLANT TO SWITCH TO BIOMASS
CBCNews, January 21, 2009
Ontario Power Generation has announced plans to convert the power plant in Atikokan, west of Thunder Bay, to burn wood pellets instead of coal by 2012. It will then look at converting the three other coal-fired plants, including the giant Nanticoke plant on Lake Erie, to burn wood pellets, wheat husks or other plant material.
> Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2009/01/21/green-energy.html

BIOFUEL CARBON FOOTPRINT NOT AS BIG AS FEARED, MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH SAYS
MSU News Release, January 15, 2009
Publications ranging from the journal Science to Time magazine have blasted biofuels for significantly contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, calling into question the environmental benefits of making fuel from plant material. But a new analysis by Michigan State University scientists says these dire predictions are based on a set of assumptions that may not be correct. Crop management is a key factor in estimating greenhouse gas emissions associated with land use change associated with biofuels.
> Read more: http://news.msu.edu/story/5836/

"NEXT BIOFUELS": BURSTING THE GREEN BUBBLE
Scoop Business (NZ), January 15, 2009
A diverse alliance of organizations published an open letter in the U.S. and internationally warning of the dangers of industrially produced biofuels (called agrofuels by critics). The letter explains why large-scale industrial production of transport fuels and other energy from plants such as corn, sugar cane, oilseeds, trees, grasses, or so-called agricultural and woodland waste threatens forests, biodiversity, food sovereignty, community-based land rights and will worsen climate change.   The group believes that "Agrofuels are a false solution and a dangerous distraction and they must be halted."
> Read more: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0901/S00162.htm

BIOENERGY CANADA MAGAZINE
> Web site: http://www.bioenergymagazine.ca/

FROM 1ST TO 2ND GENERATION BIOFUEL TECHNOLOGIES: AN OVERVIEW OF CURRENT INDUSTRIES AND RD&D ACTIVITIES
R. Sims, M. Taylor
International Energy Agency
November 2008
It is increasingly understood that first generation biofuels, primarily from food crops, are limited in their ability to achieve targets for oil-product substitution, climate-change mitigation, and economic growth.  These various concerns have increased interest in developing biofuels from non-food-biomass. These 2nd-generation biofuels could avoid many of the concerns facing 1st-generation biofuels and could potentially offer greater cost reduction potential in the longer term.
> Publication: http://www.iea.org/textbase/papers/2008/2nd_Biofuel_Gen.pdf

February 25-26, 2009
PLANT BIO-INDUSTRIAL OILS WORKSHOP
Saskatoon, SK
> Details: http://www.agwest.sk.ca/events/plantbio-oils09/plant%20bio-industrial%20oils%2009.htm

March 5, 2009
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AND LINKAGES IN BIOPRODUCTS
Composites Innovation Centre
Winnipeg, MB
The objective of this event is to coordinate an initiative to increase collaboration between industries and research establishments involved in the development and commercialization of bioproducts in Canada. It consists of a one day techno-business meeting (video conference) on 5 March 2009 connecting organizations in Quebec and western Canada. The conference will be held simultaneously in Montreal and Winnipeg. This event will be followed with a webinar and final report. It is intended as an initial activity that could translate into long term, sustainable linkages and networks that will develop and commercialize technologies and products thus growing Canada’s bioproducts industry.
> If you are interested in attending this event, please contact: Carmela Bucci-Vernaus; Tel. 204 262 3400 x216; cbuccivernaus@compositesinnovation.ca

March 10-12, 2009
CANADIAN RENEWABLE ENERGY WORKSHOP
Regina, SK
> Details:http://www.crew2009.com

March 10, 2009
EUROPEAN UNION/ONTARIO BIOGAS NETWORKING FORUM: DEVELOPING KNOWLEDGE AND BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS IN THE AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PROCESSING SECTORS
London, ON
> Details: http://www.gtmconference.ca/site/index.php/program/networking-forum

March 10-13, 2009
1ST ANNUAL CANADIAN FARM AND FOOD BIOGAS CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION
London, ON
> Details:http://www.gtmconference.ca/site/

March 10-13, 2009
GROWING THE MARGINS: ENERGY, BIOPRODUCTS AND BYPRODUCTS FROM FARM AND FOOD SECTORS CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION
3rd Annual Growing the Margins Conference and Exhibition
London, ON
> Details: http://www.gtmconference.ca/site/

March 16-18, 2009
BIO-EUROPE SPRING 2009
Milan, Italy
> Details:http://www.ebdgroup.com/bes/

March 23-25, 2009
ALGAE BIOFUELS WORLD SUMMIT
San Francisco, CA
> Details:http://www.infocastinc.com/index.php/conference/algae09

March 31, 2009
FUELING CANADIAN INDUSTRY WITH AGRO-BIOMASS
Queens University, Kingston, ON
> Details:http://www.canbio.ca/events/events_kingston.php

April 28-30, 2009
INTERNATIONAL BIOMASS CONFERENCE & EXPO
Portland, OR
> Details:http://www.biomassconference.com/ema/DisplayPage.aspx?pageId=About_Us

May 12-15 2009
BIOENERGY STUDY TOUR: STATE-OF-ART FOREST SUPPLY CHAINS AND BIOENERGY PROJECTS
Joensuu region, Finland
> Details: http://www.canbio.ca/documents/MissionsfromCanada.pdf

May 23 - 30, 2009
JOINT CANADA-SWEDEN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS - 2009
Waste to Energy tour
The Swedish Trade Council, in association with the Canadian Urban Institute, is planning a series of Professional Development Workshops related to waste to energy and sustainable city building. These workshops will consist of an intensive "pre-tour workshop" and "debrief" in Canada and a "study tour" to learn some of these concepts and examples firsthand and meet Swedish experts in these fields. 
Waste to Energy tour Planned for May 23 - 30, 2009;
Sustainable City-building tour "SymbioCity" Planned for September 19 - 26, 2009;
Or create a Custom made tour
> Details: http://renewcanada.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/swe-study-tour-2009-flyer_v31_2-dec-2008.pdf

August 24-28, 2009
BIOFUELS & BIOENERGY: A CHANGING CLIMATE
Vancouver, BC
> Details: For more information or to register contact emmanuel.ackom@ubc.ca

August 31 - September 4, 2009
CANADIAN MISSION TO 4TH INTERNATIONAL BIOENERGY 2009 CONFERENCE
Jyväskylä, Finland
> Details: http://www.canbio.ca/documents/MissionsfromCanada.pdf

September 19 - 26, 2009
JOINT CANADA-SWEDEN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS - 2009
Sustainable City-building tour "SymbioCity"
The Swedish Trade Council, in association with the Canadian Urban Institute, is planning a series of Professional Development Workshops related to waste to energy and sustainable city building. These workshops will consist of an intensive "pre-tour workshop" and "debrief" in Canada and a "study tour" to learn some of these concepts and examples firsthand and meet Swedish experts in these fields. 
Waste to Energy tour Planned for May 23 - 30, 2009;
Sustainable City-building tour "SymbioCity" Planned for September 19 - 26, 2009;
Or create a Custom made tour
> Details: http://renewcanada.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/swe-study-tour-2009-flyer_v31_2-dec-2008.pdf