Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

The CFFO Commentary: New Agricultural Opportunities in Bio-Products

By Nathan Stevens

There are some industry leaders that would argue that one of the greatest opportunities for farmers in the next 20 years will be the development of the bio-products sector. At a recent information session held by the Wellington district of the CFFO, Gord Surgeoner of Ontario Agri-food Technologies shared some his insights into the tremendous opportunities that Ontario agriculture has the potential to seize in the very near future.

Before delving into the new opportunities for farmers, Surgeoner assessed the current situation in the food industry. The food industry in North America is growing at the very slow rate of one per cent per year. Moreover, growth in one area of agriculture related to food usually comes at the expense of another type of commodity production. For example, if more chicken is consumed, it may mean that less pork or beef is consumed. In essence, one commodity cannot grow substantially without cannibalizing another part of the industry.

Surgeoner argued that the key for future growth in demand for agricultural products is in developing bio-products in an era of rising fuel costs. When confronted with the assertion by some that we are running out of oil, he adds “at what price?” Canadians can see this most clearly with the development of the Alberta oil sands and offshore drilling in Atlantic Canada, projects that would have been deemed way too costly 50 years ago.

At the right price for oil, the viability of bio-based plastics as a replacement for petroleum based projects becomes very favourable. The possibilities are phenomenal. Just a few examples include foam seating and roof panels for cars, and containers of all shapes and sizes for storing materials and supplies.

This is not to say that developing these industries and technologies isn’t without potential stumbling blocks or unanswered questions. For example, does a soy-based foam cushion smell funny in 40 degree heat? If it doesn’t, then that is great. If it does, then time and energy needs to be poured into finding a solution to the issue.

A whole new world of opportunities is opening up for farmers in this province. There is an opportunity for Ontario farmers to supply renewable bio-products to North America and the world. With the right leadership in place and the right support at the right time, Ontario can be a leader in this emerging industry.

Nathan Stevens is the Research and Policy Advisor for the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario. The CFFO Commentary represents the opinions of the writer and does not necessarily represent CFFO policy. It can be heard weekly on CKNX Wingham and CFCO Chatham, Ontario and is archived on the CFFO website: www.christianfarmers.org. The CFFO is supported by 4,200 farm families across Ontario

Views: 78

Comment

You need to be a member of Ontario Agriculture to add comments!

Join Ontario Agriculture

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

PCDMN Soil Moisture Maps: Risk of stem rot sclerotial germination, July 2, 2025

June and early July are important months in terms of field crop disease development.  For diseases such as sclerotinia stem rot of canola and ergot of small grain cereals, suitable pathogen development must occur to produce spores before host infection can take place.  The pathogens associated with both diseases overwinter as resting bodies known as sclerotia, which are compact masses of hyphae (Figure 1).  Germination of stem rot sclerotia to produce the golf-tee shaped apothecia, aka carpogenic germination, requires suitable moisture conditions and moderate temperatures: Typically, sclerotial germination takes up to three weeks with the occurrence of temperatures that range from 10 to 20oC and suitable moisture conditions Soil moisture levels at or close to field capacity at the soil surface are needed for germination of sclerotia, although some germination can occur when levels are somewhat less that field capacity Field capacity varies depending on soil texture but is generally ar

Beef Producers Have a Game Plan to Keep Canada FMD-Free

Canada’s last outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) occurred in Saskatchewan in 1952, and, since then our herds have remained free of FMD. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, Canada is designated as FMD-free without vaccination. This designation is awarded to countries that do not have the FMD virus circulating among cloven-hoofed animals without regular preventative vaccines. The 1952 outbreak was traced to a single sausage brought over by a farm worker from Germany. This seemingly harmless act of bringing a foreign food product on a flight had devastating effects on the Canadian economy, costing approximately $2 million in expenses and lost revenue at that time. If an outbreak were to occur in Canada today, it is estimated that the economic impact could soar to over $80 million.  You Are Here! Prevent and Prepare Canada is currently able to prevent Foot and Mouth Disease from crossing our borders and to prepare for any suspected FMD c

Working together to promote 4R practices to farmers

Fertilizer Canada and Alberta Grains have developed a 4R memorandum of understanding (MOU) that outlines how Agriculture and Irrigation, the agriculture industry and farmers can work together to bolster data collection and communication to increase 4R practice adoption levels. The MOU, a three-year agreement, was signed by Agriculture and Irrigation, Environment and Protected Areas, Alberta Grains and Fertilizer Canada. The objectives of the MOU are to improve production and environmental stewardship through greater awareness of 4R practices and principles. It also aims to establish mechanisms to pursue common objectives and priorities related to soil health/quality and nutrient management, and to support the Alberta government's commitments to the crop industry’s sustainable growth. “I’m so happy to announce the government’s MOU with Fertilizer Canada and Alberta Grains, set to increase awareness of 4R principles and practices. The bottom line is that this approach helps producers m

Grill Season is Here and It’s Never Been Fresher

“Grilling naturally brings out the vibrant flavours of fresh, seasonal ingredients,” says Garry Scott, Vice President of Marketing at Napoleon. “It’s one of the best ways to enjoy everything this time of year has to offer – bold flavours, fresh air and good company.”

© 2025   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service