University of Guelph research using renewable agricultural products in new ways to replace petroleum-based materials received $1.125 million from the federal government and private-sector partners today.
The announcement was made by federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz during an event in Leamington, Ont.
The investment from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through its Agri-Innovation Program will support new research at U of G’s Bioproducts Discovery and Development Centre (BDDC).
Guelph professors Amar Mohanty, Department of Plant Agriculture, and Manjusri Misra, School of Engineering, are heading the University project entitled “Design and Engineering of Sustainable Agro-based Biocomposites and Bioplastics for Industrial Uses” along with industrial partners Competitive Green Technologies, New Energy Farms and a fiber formatting Ontario Company.
BDDC scientists aim to create renewable, eco-friendly alternatives to petroleum-based products for specific industrial uses. They will look at using renewable agricultural fibre in biocomposite materials and integrating advanced production of purpose-grown agricultural fibres and other farm residues with technologies for bioplastic and biocomposite manufacturing applications.
Photo: Rick Nicholls, MPP Chatham-Kent-Essex; Hon. Gerry Ritz, Agriculture Minister; Prof. Amar Mohanty, University of Guelph; Atul Bali, CEO, CGTech; Mike Tiessen, President, CGTech; and Jeff Watson, MP Essex.
