Guelph, Ontario, Canada
October 17, 2008
Bioenergy research and the
bioeconomy will be the focus of the
University of Guelph's new
Centre for Agricultural Renewable Energy and Sustainability
(CARES) at the Ridgetown Campus.
Robert Gordon, dean of Guelph's Ontario Agricultural College,
made the announcement at the official launch of the Centre today
in Ridgetown.
“OAC is committed to innovative research and technology transfer
that supports the development of new technologies that will
enhance our environment," he said.
"CARES fits perfectly with this mandate. It will bring together
highly skilled people and support applied research and knowledge
transfer in renewable energy, which is relevant to the public,
private and non-profit sectors.”
The Centre will have an agricultural focus, with the objectives
of strengthening the agriculture sector, improving
sustainability and development, increasing alternative energy
and energy conservation, and leveraging education, training and
research.
It will include a research and demonstration facility to test
new technologies. “We want to do research that will benefit
rural Ontario,”
said Art Schaafsma, Ridgetown Campus director. “The projects we
undertake will create new value-added markets for agricultural
products.”
The first project is a farm-scale biodiesel demonstration plant
that is currently under construction. In June, the federal
government announced it's investing more than $900,000 in the
project. The funding is being provided through Agriculture and
Agri-Food Canada's Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food
program, which is delivered in Ontario by the Agricultural
Adaptation Council.
In addition to government and University support, the
Southwestern Ontario Bio-Products Innovation Network (SOBIN) was
instrumental in the conception of CARES. The innovation network
promotes new bioproducts, fosters energy conservation and
expands alternative energy sources.
Today, the University and SOBIN signed a memorandum of
understanding pledging to work together to promote bioproduct
research and development opportunities. The goal is to
substitute non-renewable materials in many manufacturing
sectors, consumer goods and services.
“We are very pleased to be working with the University of Guelph
Ridgetown Campus on this important new initiative,” said Matt
McLean, SOBIN's executive director. “This agreement will
strengthen our relationship as we continue to work toward our
shared objectives for long-term sustainable resource
development." |
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