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By Tony Kryzanowski
The European Union (EU) consumes about 85 per cent of the world’s wood pellets and about 30 per cent of that is supplied by Canada, amounting to almost $300 million in annual sales to the EU. But until recently, Canada’s access to the European wood pellet market was in jeopardy.
In 2012, the EU released new sustainability guidelines for solid biomass that may restrict biomass from “primary forests”, as defined by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. Concerns arose that the EU may put many of Canada’s forests in this definition, without regard for the legislative and Sustainable Forest Management framework that exists to ensure sustainable forest practices within Canada.
To help combat this potential trade barrier, Alberta Innovates Bio Solutions (AI Bio) decided to support the Canadian Institute of Forestry (CIF), which represents Canada on the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Bioenergy Task 43 Initiative. This is where dialogue and knowledge exchange is taking place on the subject of management of biomass feedstocks for the energy market.
AI Bio is contributing toward the $16,000 annual fee for CIF and its network of scientists to participate in and contribute to Task 43 events and activity.
A recent outcome from Task 43 dialogue, likely to keep the important EU market open to Canadian wood pellet producers, demonstrates the value of this AI Bio investment.
A workshop was hosted recently for Task Force 43 participants at Laval University to demonstrate Canadian forest practices and sustainability, and to discuss how different sustainability frameworks might interact to allow for international trade. The outcome of this field tour and workshop was to help European regulators understand the Canadian situation. It is now likely that when the EU sustainability criteria are released, they will be written in such a way that Canadians will be able to comply with existing practices.
In other words, Canadian wood pellet producers—where the feedstock comes from a primary forest—will be able to continue to sell their products into the EU market. This outcome is important given how many tonnes of wood pellets that Europe consumes annually and that global consumption is expected to balloon by more than 300 percent by 2020, according to the industry consultants, International WOOD MARKETS Group.
The IEA is a 28-member organization set up following the 1973 energy crisis, and it has proven invaluable as a platform for dialogue on such important issues as how countries develop policy around biomass feedstocks and their use in the energy market.
“I see it as an opportunity to inform policy development in a lot of countries that are looking to either use or purchase biomass feedstocks for energy,” says John Pineau, CIF Chief Executive Officer. “It’s giving good information and the facts on these alternate energy sources so that good decisions can be made in terms of policy development and implementation in user countries. . . . it’s really important that Canada explains its situation well as these policies and directives are being developed.”
Pineau says another event similar to the one hosted for IEA members in Laval will be held in Western Canada later in 2014, adding that CIF is well-suited to take on this extension and knowledge exchange role because of its research network of scientists working on forest sustainability issues in Canada. Alternatively, Canadian scientists also learn about how other countries harvest their woody biomass for use in bioenergy production as part of the information exchange at these events.
Patrick Guidera, AI Bio Director of Forest Technology, says that AI Bio was impressed with the Canadian network that CIF has developed, which has resulted in a common voice around biomass feedstock management in Canada and their use in energy markets.
“We’re hoping that the number of agencies across the country involved with CIF on Task 43 will improve the networking and the communication around this often complex question of how much biomass is out there, how much is it going to cost, and where is the market to send it to,” says Guidera.
He adds that delving deeper into this relationship of biomass feedstocks as it relates to energy markets is a worthwhile endeavor “because of the significant agriculture and forestry feedstocks we have in the province. We’d like to get the greatest benefit from that for Albertans.”
For more information about AI Bio support of CIF on the IEA Bioenergy Task 43 Initiative, contact Patrick Guidera at (780) 638-3722 or pat.guidera@albertainnovates.ca.
By Tony Kryzanowski
Alberta’s population has grown by over one million people or 25 per cent since 2000. This amount of growth has created demand for landscaping materials such as trees and shrubs and represents a potential business opportunity for individuals interested in starting a tree nursery type of business.
“Opportunities in this business are numerous as cities and towns grow in population and the demand for landscaping trees in new housing developments and on acreages increases,” says Toso Bozic, Agroforester with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. “There is a steady need for trees on boulevards, streets and in city parks and playgrounds.”
Cody Brown, General Manager at Tree to Tree Nurseries of Gleichen, Alberta agrees.
“There’s a phenomenal amount of growth in the industry right now,” he says. “Alberta producers cannot grow enough material to meet market demand.” He says that nursery stock is being shipped in from areas surrounding the province, and even from as far as Minnesota.
Brown learned about the tree nursery business while working with his father and grandfather on a nursery near Rimbey, and then earned a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from Lake Forest College, in Chicago. Because of his love for the outdoors, working with his hands, and desire to travel, establishing a nursery business in 2003 was a natural fit for him. While it was a good fit for him and his family, Brown says it’s not for everyone.
“It’s like anything to do with agriculture,” he says. “There’s high risk and high rewards if you’re in the right spot at the right time. We spend a lot of time forecasting where we think market trends are going to go.”
The company markets both deciduous and coniferous trees with some native to the province, and other trees from outside the area but which have proven successful in this growing zone. That includes paper birch, hawthorn, ash, Siberian larch, ornamental crab apple, hybrid poplar, aspen, cherry, mayday, and lilac—all common varieties seen throughout the province. They also grow conifers, especially spruce, pine and larch varieties.
Brown says marketing, quality control, and starting with tree varieties native to Alberta are three priorities new entries to this industry should have.
“You should start marketing the first day that you plant a tree,” he says.
At present, the province has about 9,755 acres dedicated to tree nursery businesses. The total estimated value of this industry in annual sales in Alberta is about $77 million.
Funding provided by Growing Forward 2 (GF2), a federal-provincial-territorial initiative, can help individuals and existing businesses investigate this option.
Under the GF2 Business Opportunity Program, successful applicants are eligible for reimbursement of between 50 per cent and 75 per cent of certain non-capital costs related to researching and planning a new business venture.
Also, under the GF2 Business Management Skills Development Program, successful applicants are eligible for reimbursement for 75 per cent of eligible costs for approved business skills development training courses.
Bozic says that those interested in starting a commercial tree nursery must have a strong dedication to this industry, be patient to reap the rewards, and be prepared for the hard work it takes to establish a viable business. He adds that they must possess great knowledge of growing a variety of tree species, which includes planting, pruning, fertilizing, watering, flowering, controlling weeds, identifying and treating tree insects and diseases, and dealing with various weather conditions such as wind, sudden storm, and cold. However, once established, a business can develop into a primary income and a legacy that can be passed on from one generation to the next. A good resource for starting in this endeavor is an organization called Landscape Alberta.
“I believe that there is a lot of opportunity in this industry as lots of operators are getting on in age and are going to retire,” says Arnold Heuver, a former Alberta nursery manager and industry veteran who now consults to the industry as Arnold Heuver Consulting.
“However, it takes a gutsy, aggressive, solid business-minded person to succeed in this business because it is very much a front-end loaded investment with little return for the first five years for a start-up,” he adds.
This article was sponsored by Growing Forward, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative.
For more information about the GF2 program, visit www.growingforward.alberta.ca or contact Toso Bozic at toso.bozic@gov.ab.ca.
By Tony Kryzanowski
Ann Everatt, President and CEO of Alberta’s Northern Lakes College (NLC), expects a resurgence in Woodland Operations Learning Foundation (WOLF)-generated programming at the college, continuing a decade-long relationship that has provided residents of northern Alberta with relevant training for people that live and work in and around forestlands.
“Since there is a resurgence in the forest sector, we are working with the WOLF Board of Directors to see how we can reintegrate programming to support regional employment demands,” says Everatt, “and I can see opportunities for us to be even more integrated in future.”
Part of the reason for this optimism is because of WOLF’s expanded mandate beyond the forestry sector. WOLF now develops curriculum for those seeking employment or those currently employed, likely to leave a footprint on forested land. The training developed is based on feedback received from industry, its education partners as well as relationships with organizations like Alberta’s Colleges of Alberta Professional Foresters and Professional Forest Technologists. For example, this summer WOLF will present a series of courses geared toward environmental services, covering such topics as forest soils, eco-site classification, reclamation, watercourse crossing construction, and the environmental approvals process. These appeal to existing or potential resource industry employees.
WOLF has provided over 10,000 student days of training since its incorporation in 2001. It has an agreement with NLC that allows the college to integrate the curriculum into its programming. WOLF has similar agreements with the Alberta Distance Learning Centre for secondary schools in Alberta.
Over the years, NLC has mentored WOLF in instructional practices, curriculum development and distribution, provided financial support, operational space, and has included forestry-related training in its programming. Everatt says that some of the advantages of WOLF’s partnership with NLC are higher levels of course relevance, coupled with quality assurance for curriculum.
WOLF Executive Director David Blackmore says that NLC’s support has been invaluable because of its experience with various types of educational delivery systems and techniques that appeal to a variety of learners, whether it is through traditional distance learning, online, or direct instruction. The support from NLC has enabled WOLF to provide effective, competency-based adult education matched to the most current information on operational, environmental and business practices on forested lands.
NLC is responsible for a large stewardship area with campuses in 26 communities within an 180,000 square kilometre area of northern Alberta. Community Education Councils in each community provide NLC with input on their particular training needs.
WOLF President Robert Anderson says that the NLC-WOLF partnership is filling an important niche in pre-employment training and continuing education that responds to the wishes of many northern communities to provide local training, so that young people can find work without leaving home. A lot of the province’s resource activity is taking place right in their backyards, offering local people with the right skillsets with the potential to land good paying jobs.
“The best type of training occurs when you have a relationship between an institution like Northern Lakes College that can do the training and the industries like those represented on the WOLF Board that will be hiring the people being trained,” says Anderson. “We work together on curriculum development to align the students so that they can get jobs.”
Everatt says that given NLC’s connection with communities, the college can respond quickly to requirements for pre-employment training and continuing education. In turn, the college has partnered with organizations like WOLF to assist with continuing education programming.
“Having a locally trained workforce is of benefit to all of Alberta,” says Everatt. “We have a skill shortage and there are opportunities to address that by having the right programming in the right places to meet the demand.”
Blackmore says the success of the programming offered by WOLF through outlets like NLC is reflected in how quickly courses fill up.
For more information about WOLF, and its resource-related curriculum and services, see the website, https://www.w-o-l-f.ca/ or contact wolfinfo@northernlakescollege.ca
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