BSMI Strategy Building Workshop
Every year 34 million tons of reusable materials like paper pulp, wood chips, lumber industry residues, and sawdust—together known as biomass—go to waste, yet these are critical materials to decarbonizing the Canadian economy, transitioning to sustainable practices, enabling inclusive development, and boosting Canadian capacity in trade, energy production, skilled labor and housing.
Four U of T researchers are on a mission to advance and harness the potential of biomass and other sustainable practices and materials by leading the development of a Canadian research network that fosters transformation and innovation of the bioeconomy.
“We’re working with researchers, communities, industry, and government to transform Canada’s renewable resources into sustainable products, biomaterials, and jobs. Our collaborative approach will help grow Canada’s bioeconomy and build a more inclusive and resilient future,” says Rasoul Yousefpour, the lead of the new Bioeconomy and Sustainable Materials Institute (BSMI), and Associate Professor of Forestry at the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design.
Professor Rasoul Yousefpour, along with a team of three U of T experts—Professors Shashi Kant (UTM), Tamer El-Diraby (Engineering), and Robert Gillezeau (Rotman & UTSC)—won seed-funding from the Institutional Strategic Initiatives Funding Program and have, since January, been building connections and holding consultations with industry, government, academics, not for profits as well as community groups.
In June, the team held a BSMI Strategy Building workshop, whose attendees included Susanna Laakonen-Craig, Deputy Minister, Ontario Ministry of Energy, Scott Jackson, CEO of Centre for Research and Innovation in the Bio-Economy (CRIBE), Monica Patel, the President and CEO of the Forest Stewardship Council Canada as well as U of T faculty, representatives from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Natural Resources Canada, the City of Toronto, the Mass-timber industry and those representing Indigenous communities in northern Ontario, amongst others.
The workshop focused on anticipating challenges and identifying promising solutions, with discussions highlighting a need to build demand and inclusive partnerships, collaborate and learn from Indigenous communities for long-term growth, strengthen value-added production and policy alignment, and build workforce capacity across the value chain. Workshop insights will serve as the basis for the development of the BSMI strategic plan.
The energy of the event and importance of the BSMI mission were well-captured by Professor Robert Levit, Acting Dean of the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design, who delivered opening remarks at the Strategy Workshop: “This initiative answers a critical need, at a critical juncture in climate change and sustainability mitigation and adaptation efforts, when the transition to a bioeconomy is not something optional but an urgent task we must all strive to contribute to.”
As a next step, the team aims to spread its mission widely at U of T, with plans for divisional info and engagement sessions for faculty, librarians and students. Watch for updates from the BSMI team!