CANADIAN NATURAL FIBRE VALUE CHAIN ALLIANCE WORKSHOP
7th Floor Port O’Call Best Western Yankee Ben Room 1935 KcKnight Blvd NE, Calgary, Alberta Phone: 403-291-4600
February 16-17th, 2006
What is the Canadian Natural Fibre Value Chain Alliance? Purpose of workshop
The Canadian Natural Fibre Value Chain Alliance, (the “Alliance”) is a newly formed group currently undertaking the formation of a value chain for hemp/flax fibre production, processing and marketing.1 The Alliance is organizing an industry and government workshop to formalize the business relationships, and develop the business plan for the establishment of a natural fibre value chain focused on the production, processing and marketing of hemp/flax value added fibre products. The specific immediate focus of the natural fibre value chain is to establish a commercial scale pilot decortication plant in Canada. Present market, economic returns, and technical information with respect to the potential for producing, processing and marketing hemp/flax into value added markets in North America, Establish the founding, commercial, and research partners, and business relationships for this value chain, and Elaborate and finalize the key elements of the value chain business plan inclusive of production, processing, marketing, and research. Establish the requirements, costs, partners and location for the first commercial pilot plant. Over the past 18 months, the members of the Alliance have established contacts with a range of potential business and marketing partners, ranging from agricultural producers and processors, to end-users within the textile, biocomposites,nonwoven, construction, and paper industries. In addition, different government, research agencies, and funding agencies have been aware of and supportive of the Alliance and its efforts Critical to the development and success of a natural fibre industry in Canada is that there is established the capacity to supply the quality and quantity of natural fibre market needs (particularly in the automotive, pulp and paper, textile and biocomposites markets) on a sustainable, and competitive basis. This will likely only be achieved within an effective fibre industry value chain, and with efficient and proven technology. The development of this industry has been held up due to lack of a proven supply based on effective and economic processing technologies.
Outcomes of workshop
1. Sharing of market, economic and technical information with respect to the opportunities within the value added hemp/flax industry in North America 2. A business plan framework is developed for a fibre value chain establishing one or more decortication plants in Canada. 3. Establishment of the requirements, costs, partners, and location for a commercial scale pilot decortication plant in Canada. 4. Agricultural supply chain partners are identified for the graduated production of hemp and flax fibre consistent with the growth of processing capacity and market demand. 5. Processing and end-user partners are established for the production and use of the bast fibre, core and dust co-products produced by the value chain. 6. An applied research program and strategy is drafted for the development of the proper fibre varieties, agronomic management practices for growing hemp, and for the continual product development within the different end-user markets (bioplastics, energy, automotive, construction, and pulp and paper markets).
7. Agreements and understandings drafted and signed, and an action plan put in place.
Invitation to the workshop
Selected non-competitive potential partner companies, individuals, funders, and government agencies, including:
Confirmed Company or Organization
Natural Fibre Consortium Inc. Canada Natural Fibre Consortium International B.V. AvantiPolymers Ltd, Calgary, and Gretna, Manitoba Falher Alfalfa Ltd, Falher, Alberta Caiton Beef and Barley, Olds, Alberta Yiasulth Management Corporation, BC BioComposites International, US British Columbia Agriculture and Lands First Nations Development, Victoria Olds AgriTech Industries, Olds, Alberta InterAgtion, Winnipeg Serecon Management Consulting Inc., Alberta Alberta Agriculture Food and Rural Development AVAC Ltd, Calgary Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Manitoba Agriculture and Foods, Winnipeg Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food, Saskatoon 100 Mile House, BC National Research Council Hemptown Clothing, Vancouver Christenson and Associates Ontario Hemp Association, Ontario Unconfirmed Possibilities Alberta Research Council, Edmonton and Vegreville Processing Investment Attraction Branch, AAFRD Ontario Agri-Food Tech Biolin, Saskatchewan University of Saskatchewan BioComposites Group, Edmonton Hempline, Ontario Alberta Eastern Irrigation District, Parkland
Individual(s)
Albert Dun, Erik Eising Arie Breure Harry Funk, Scott Edgelow Paulette Carriere Al Church Joe Norris Garry Lavold Jammi Kumar Blair Wright Erik Eising Ralph Ashmead Trevor Kloeck Keith Jones Ted Pidgeon Al Sturko Bill Greuel Donna Barnett Paul Gebhardt Jerry Kroll John Christensen Gordon Scheifele Individual(s) Dr. Jargen Quaudt, Jan Salaski Randi Sandbu Gordon Surgeoner Alvin Ulrich Satya Panigrahi Tamrat Tekle Geoff Kime Joe Chomistec
Role, Interest
Processor, Technology, International Market Development End-user, construction materials Processor, producer, energy by-products Fibre Production, energy by-products applications End-user, construction materials End User, bioplastics, biocomposites Native Industry Liaison, fibre production and end users Processor Consultant, Business Dev., Value Chain Development Coordinator, Value Chain Manager Technical and strategic support Pre-commercialization support, product development Strategic Liaison, research Support Industry Liaison Industry Liaison, Research & Development Production, processing Research End-user, fabrics Industry Liaison, Consultant Seed variety development and supply Role, Interest Production Research, product development Business Development Research and Development Research and development, flax Research End user, product development Processor, Industry Development Developer, end user
TENTATIVE AGENDA
Morning
DAY 1
Discussion of market opportunities for hemp fibre ( automotive, biocomposites, building materials, and energy industries in North America) Overview of European fibre harvesting and decortication technologies Role of Government and Support Overview of potential costs and returns from hemp production and processing
Afternoon
Workshop on possible alternative structures for formation of natural fibre value chain Overview of production research and product development needs and opportunities Determination of participants interest in value chain, pilot project
Morning
DAY 2
Workshop for designing a business plan for a value chain Commercial pilot plant– cost, capacity, management, partners location Involvement of government
Afternoon
Development of commitments, understandings, and agreements Development of action plan for implementation
Please indicate your interest in attending and participating in this workshop by January 27th. The workshop costs are being partially sponsored by several government and other funders. To match these funds, participants are asked to contribute on the following basis: $450 plus GST for a total of $481.50 Payment : Please send Cheque payable to “Serecon Management Consulting Inc.”, indicating payment for “Fibre Value Chain Workshop”, to #300, 4500-16th Avenue NW, Calgary Alberta, T3B 0M6. Please complete the following information on your company or organization, and return by email to Dr. Ralph Ashmead at rashmead@serecon.ca, or fax (403) 247-9915, or phone (403) 247-9690. Name/Organization .................................................................................................................................................................... Phone #’s ..................................................................................... Email ................................................................................ Mailing Address ...................................................................................................... Postal Code .............................................