Time Frame: 2006 – 2009   The Biofuels Opportunities for Producers Initiative (BOPI) was launched on September 20, 2006 by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) in support of the Stratégie nationale d’un contenu moyen en carburant renouvelable (Quebec’s strategy for average renewable fuel content) for 2010. A first call for proposals was put out on September 21, 2006 and a second on May 10, 2007 after national supplementary funding was announced.   Objectives Fuel Speed Ahead   In order to buttress the implementation of Quebec’s strategy, the program encouraged greater participation and strove to reap the maximum possible benefits for the agricultural sector, notably by supporting producers in planning biofuel production facilities. More specifically, the program:   Positioned the agricultural industry so as to maximize commercial biofuel applications and increase the share of its benefits from biofuel production; Allowed agricultural producers to become major partners in the biofuel production chain, beyond merely providing the raw materials.   Program Committee A full tank of devoted COMMITTEE members   A seven-member evaluation committee was formed, including five producers representing different regions and production sectors and appointed by the board of directors, an AAFC specialist and a specialist from the Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation du Québec (MAPAQ), to assess the project’s directions and action priorities, and to complete project evaluations.   Nature of the Projects and Funding   The projects funded improved producers’ capacity to implement biofuel production and to capitalize on biofuel operations.

For these projects, the biofuels under consideration had to be intended for transportation. The treated inputs could be:

• Agricultural products or commodities;
• Straw or other biomass containing cellulose;
• A combination of wood residue from processing plants, or other residues including components of an agricultural input.

The BOPI contribution extended to a maximum of 70% of the project total, up to $100,000. In enterprise projects, producers had to own more than a third of the operations.

One Program – Three Tiers

The program supported the implementation of 19 projects in total. Each approved project had to comply with the requirements of one of the three tiers based on the Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food (ACAAF) program.

Tier I – Industry-Led Solutions to Emerging Issues

The first tier’s objective was to make the Canadian agriculture and agri-food industry a leader in the field, seizing new opportunities, holding trials of new applications, approaches and solutions. The projects had to present sound, viable business proposals to create and expand biofuel production capacity, or feasibility studies or other studies necessary required to complete business plans.

Tier II – Capturing Market Opportunities by Advancing Research Results

Tier two projects facilitated commercial applications of research results, and consisted of pre-commercialization studies based on research results on biofuels.

Tier III  – Sharing Information to Advance the Sector

Tier three projects gathered, analyzed and communicated information contributing to subsequent agricultural and agri-food policy priorities, information to determine existing commercial applications and provide the feedback required to position the agricultural industry within the biofuel sector.

Results

BOPI-supported projects included a range of different inputs and various applicants from nine different regions. The projects allowed industry stakeholders to become more familiar with the available inputs and their biofuel transformation capacities. The main inputs under consideration were oilseeds (soy, canola, sunflower), slaughterhouse dross and cooking oils for biodiesel production, and corn, grain, sorghum, sugar beets and cellulosic inputs used in ethanol production. Through their participation, Quebec farmers demonstrated their willingness to play an active role in biofuel production, and their willingness to gain from it. Thus, the program:

• Fostered knowledge development on agricultural issues surrounding biofuels; 
• Identified the opportunities and limitations related to biofuel production;
• Allowed producers to become more familiar with energy industry issues;
• Increased interest throughout the agricultural world on energy-related questions;
• Allowed the agricultural industry to position itself as a possible leader in biofuel production.

* Including requested amounts by applicants and partners.