Castor Meeting–OMAFRA GUELPH

Guelph will host a Castor workshop, with the expressed purpose of gauging the interest in the agricultural, research and industrial sectors in the development of an Ontario specific castor strategy.  Scientists from the University of Windsor, University of Guelph, Trent, University of Toronto, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and Vineland Research and Innovation Centre will discuss the prospects and challenges for a research consortium.  Industry will have the chance to drive the end use of these products, and the opportunity for agriculture is to be able to supply a potentially valuable crop to the chemical industry.

Addressing the challenges of castor production, oil extraction and chemical derivatives will be part of this meeting.  Liv Severino from EMBRAPA, Brazil will discuss the implications of castor in that country, and the opportunities for collaboration with Canadian scientists. American castor researchers from Texas and Mississippi have been invited to video conference into this meeting, with the purpose of extending a North American consortium on castor production.

Finally, the market uses of castor will be highlighted, with presentations from engineers and current end users.  This will be followed up by an early economic analysis for Ontario producers.  The opportunity is there, it needs to be critically evaluated, and if it makes sense, a value chain developed.Guelph will host a Castor workshop, with the expressed purpose of gauging the interest in the agricultural, research and industrial sectors in the development of an Ontario specific castor strategy.  Scientists from the University of Windsor, University of Guelph, Trent, University of Toronto, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and Vineland Research and Innovation Centre will discuss the prospects and challenges for a research consortium.  Industry will have the chance to drive the end use of these products, and the opportunity for agriculture is to be able to supply a potentially valuable crop to the chemical industry.

Addressing the challenges of castor production, oil extraction and chemical derivatives will be part of this meeting.  Liv Severino from EMBRAPA, Brazil will discuss the implications of castor in that country, and the opportunities for collaboration with Canadian scientists. American castor researchers from Texas and Mississippi have been invited to video conference into this meeting, with the purpose of extending a North American consortium on castor production.

Finally, the market uses of castor will be highlighted, with presentations from engineers and current end users.  This will be followed up by an early economic analysis for Ontario producers.  The opportunity is there, it needs to be critically evaluated, and if it makes sense, a value chain developed.