Supporting the growth and development of agricultural biomass products

 

Leamington, Ontario – Canada`s agricultural sector is working hard to boost productivity, efficiency and income, while meeting the challenge of feeding the world sustainably. The Government of Canada is continuing to partner with farmers and agri-businesses to help them continue to protect our environment while keeping our economy strong and growing.

 

Lloyd Longfield, Member of Parliament for Guelph, on behalf of Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, today announced an investment of $499,433 to help Competitive Green Technologies research and develop a biomass-based alternative material that could replace traditional nylon in automobile manufacturing and other industries.

 

With technical expertise from the University of Guelph's Bioproducts Discovery and Development Centre (BDDC), the company is developing a new biocomposite material from resin and natural fibres derived from agricultural waste. This new biocomposite material could be used by the automotive industry to produce stronger, more environmentally friendly car parts using more renewable content at a lower cost. The use of agricultural residues to produce this biocomposite material could lead to new economic opportunities for farmers.

 

Video: Jim Smalley: The Voice That Defined Saskatchewan Agriculture Journalism | CKRM 100th Anniversary

Our next 620 CKRM Icon is Jim Smalley. Jim reflects on his remarkable career, from his early days in Ontario and his first steps into news, to his move west and his lasting impact on Saskatchewan’s airwaves.

After joining CKRM in 1982, Jim spent more than four decades as one of the province’s most trusted and recognizable voices. Jim defined agricultural journalism — not just in Saskatchewan, but across Canada. His commitment to telling the stories of farmers, rural communities, and the people behind the headlines set the standard. Now retired from the newsroom that proudly bears his name, Jim shares memorable stories from his time on air. A broadcaster, a storyteller, and a true voice of Saskatchewan — Jim Smalley’s legacy continues to resonate at CKRM and beyond.