Canada's AAFC Funds New Bio-Fibre Research

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) will grant $750,000 in funding to support bio-material research and commercialization at the Winnipeg-based “Composites Innovation Centre (CIC)”www.compositesinnovation.ca.

Mr. Rod Bruinooge, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South, and the Honourable Jim Rondeau, Manitoba Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mines, made the announcement at the CIC laboratory, located in the University of Manitoba’s Smartpark.

“It is exciting to see the many ways agriculture research is transforming how we think about and use traditional crops like hemp and flax,” said Mr. Bruinooge, on behalf of Minister Strahl. “By investing in biofibre research and by combining our science expertise with our research partners, Canada’s New Government is helping to bring new economic opportunities to our farmers while supporting a vibrant and leading-edge agriculture industry for Canada.”

“Composites are important to our agriculture, manufacturing, aerospace and transportation industries as well as our research and innovation sector,” said Minister Rondeau, on behalf of Minister Wowchuk. “Partnering in significant research projects such as the work being done at the Composite Innovation Centre has benefits for us all.”

“This is a great example of how science and innovation can help to create new food and non-food opportunities for the sector and for Canada,” said Minister Rondeau.

“The CIC plays a very important role in assisting companies in developing and commercializing new composite materials and technologies,” said Mr. Don Boitson, Chairman of the CIC’s Board of Directors. “Since its inception in the fall of 2003, the CIC has completed over 20 industry driven projects and is currently sponsoring 23 others. Becoming a focal point for this large initiative to further expand the end use of bio-materials is a natural progression in establishing local and national capabilities especially in the agricultural community.”

The Winnipeg-based Composites Innovation Centre is an industry-led, not-for-profit organization whose mandate is to create economic wealth through innovative research, development and industrial application of composite material technologies.