Primer on Bioproducts - BIOCAP Canada

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developing nations involved in the production ofbiomass raw materials, will disproportionatelycontrol and benefit from the development ofbioproduct technologies.Controversial forms of biotechnology, such asgenetic engineering, are used in the manufactureof some bioproducts. In bioproducts industries,gene transfer between organisms can be usedto isolate and enhance the performance ofmicro-organisms and their catalyzing enzymesand to increase the production capacity of treesand crops. This is of concern to some people,although not as controversial as the use ofgenetically modified organisms in food crops.If old growth forests and other ecosystems thatstore large amounts of carbon are used to growbiomass crops and fast-growing trees that havelower carbon densities, then bioproductsindustries — often promoted as a means tohelp fight climate change — could contribute tothe greenhouse gas problem. Large areas ofland devoted to single biomass crops forindustry might also threaten biodiversity (justas monoculture farming for food presents thesame risk). However, energy plantations fromforest biomass may be planted on abandonedfarmlands, which could reduce the pressure toharvest natural forests.Intensive growing of crops and trees couldplace unusually high demands on communitywater supplies. Plantations of trees, however,are far less likely to compromise water suppliesthan are agricultural crop species or even manynatural grasses and herbs. Such plantationsmay be a good way to make marginal landsproductive. The large quantities of pesticides orfertilizer required to grow some crops couldalso have an adverse impact on the environment.This impact can be considerably reduced bycultivating fast-growing trees, for example,since it is usually only in the first year or two ofthe rotation that chemicals are used, ratherthan every year. For trees that are coppiced,pesticides and fertilizers may not be used at all.Bioproducts concerns may be offset by thebenefits of using biomass in industry. Thedownside of bioproducts technologies, or ofbiomass production, may be weighed in publicdebates against promises of sustainabledevelopment, including the use of renewableresources as industrial feedstocks, improvedconservation, and various environmental,social and economic benefits.These are just some of the issues raised by thedevelopment and use of bioproducts inCanada. They are described in more detailthroughout this <strong>Primer</strong> and, in particular, inChapter 6. The <strong>Primer</strong> does not attempt toresolve these controversies or discuss thedebates in depth; instead, readers interested inlearning more and engaging in public debatesare encouraged to contact the agencies andorganizations listed in Chapter 7.The benefits, risks and issues raised bybioproducts make it critical that Canadiansbecome well informed and able to participate indiscussions about future directions and policies.This <strong>Primer</strong> is designed to inform the debate.14CHAPTER 1 — WHAT ARE BIOPRODUCTS?
Potential Benefits and Risks of BioproductsUnderstanding bioproducts means understanding the potentials, the promises and the pitfalls associated with theseproducts and the technologies used to produce them. The word “bioproducts” is a term of convenience thatencompasses a wide range of products and processes. It is difficult to make meaningful generalizations about suchdiversity. Adequate consideration of the pros and cons of bioproducts may be most effective when each case isconsidered on its merits. The following lists of potential benefits and risks highlight some of the promises andconcerns that have been identified for bioproducts.Potential Benefits:its:Envirvironmental protection• Reduced dependency on fossil fuels andpetrochemicals.• Less greenhouse gas emissions.• Reduced smog pollutant and toxic chemicalemissions.Diverersifsification ication of energy sources• Use of Canada’s abundant biomass resources as arenewable feedstock.• A source of energy from municipal waste, whichreduces problems associated with municipalgarbage disposal.Use of organic bypryproducts and wasaste• Reduced amounts of effluent and solid waste.• Reduced contamination of air, water and soil.Invigoration of rural communities• Increased demand for forest, farm and aquaticproducts, building on regional strengths.• Localized production and creation of jobs in ruralCanada.An Energy Resource for Developing eloping Economies• More widely distributed access to energy,especially for many developing economies thathave large biomass reserves.• Biomass processing technologies could be anexport opportunity for Canada.Potential Risks:Envirvironmental threats• Depleted biomass carbon stocks, increasedatmospheric CO 2concentrations and contributionto climate change.• Reduced biodiversity.• Increased demand for fertilizers, herbicides andpesticides, thus increasing pollution andgreenhouse gas emissions.• Some crops and micro-organisms are geneticallyengineered to produce bioproducts. These requirefull regulatory analysis to avoid negative effects onecosystems.• Fast-growing, monoculture tree plantations couldbe more susceptible to disease, or could depletelocal water supplies.• Industrial cultivation of favoured species couldthreaten biodiversity.• Increased particulate carbon emissions (soot)from wood burning.Land use and watater use conflicts• Use of land needed to supply food crops.• Use of land and water for biomass production thatshould be protected or reserved for other uses,such as wildlife habitat.PRIMER ON BIOPRODUCTS15
Page 6: ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSPollution Probe and
Page 10 and 11: The potential of bioproducts is bei
Page 12 and 13: Chapter 1Photo: Corel Corporation6
Page 14 and 15: Pervasive PetroleumFossil fuels are
Page 16 and 17: Bioproducts and theCarbon CycleOne
Page 18 and 19: PyrolysisPyrolysis is a process tha
Page 22 and 23: Some Examples of BioproductsProduct
Page 26 and 27: Canadian Forest ProductsThe Canadia
Page 28 and 29: What Other Nations Are Doing?Accord
Page 32 and 33: Does Canada Have a“Green Advantag
Page 34 and 35: Processes for producing electrical
Page 36 and 37: Fuelled by Biodiesel —continuedus
Page 38 and 39: Chapter 4Photo: www.comstock.com/ca
Page 40 and 41: consume less energy and produce les
Page 42 and 43: Enzymes at Work — continuedproces
Page 44 and 45: Industrial EcologySome thinkers, no
Page 48 and 49: Wood Pulping with FungusTraditional
Page 50 and 51: BioremediationSpills and environmen
Page 54 and 55: Faced with this uncertainty and com
Page 56 and 57: Some Benefits ofGenetically Modifie
Page 58 and 59: In some cases, such as pulp bleachi
Page 60 and 61: A Challenge toBiotechnology PolicyS
Page 62 and 63: Becoming an InformedCitizen on Biop
Page 64 and 65: Chapter 7Photo: www.comstock.com/ca
Page 66 and 67: The opportunities for Canadians to
Page 68 and 69: Environment Canada, EnvironmentalTe
Page 70 and 71:
White House Executive Order #13134.
Page 72 and 73:
Mooney, H. A., and P.G. Risser. 198
Page 74 and 75:
Catalysts: Agents (such as enzymes
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TORONTO OFFICE:625 Church StreetSui
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Primer on Bioproducts - BIOCAP Canada

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