Biomass Recovery Challenge Takes Root: Transforming Canada’s Forestry Industry
January 13, 2025 | Fredericton, NB — With over 9% of the world’s forested land and over 200,000 jobs supported annually, Canada’s forests are a cornerstone of the nation’s environment and economy. This is especially true in New Brunswick, where the forestry sector generates about $1.5B annually and sustains communities across the province.
After years of unsustainable practices, increasing weather anomalies and natural disasters, and rising global demand for hardwood products, these vital ecosystems are threatened. While efforts are being made to implement sustainable forestry practices, industry leaders must balance sustainability with productivity to meet growing demand while protecting raw materials. This means embracing innovation, reducing waste, and repurposing byproducts to ensure the industry thrives without compromising the health and longevity of our forests.
Groupe Savoie, a leading Canadian hardwood products supplier operating in New Brunswick, has partnered with Foresight Canada to launch the Biomass Recovery Challenge. With funding from the New Brunswick Innovation Fund (NBIF), Groupe Savoie is looking for technology that improves the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of hardwood biomass extraction and transportation from cut sites. This could include innovations in forestry harvesting equipment, methods, or the development of logistical and data tools to better deploy harvesting equipment and personnel.
This Challenge offers SMEs the opportunity to collaborate directly with Groupe Savoie on a 12-month pilot, addressing key scale-up barriers cleantech ventures face like access to the necessary resources and partnerships to test and validate technologies in a real-world setting. The Challenge helps bridge the gap between concept and commercialization while driving industry-wide transformation. Scalable solutions emerging from the pilot can enhance efficiency, productivity, and sustainability, driving cleantech adoption and aligning forestry operations with both economic growth and environmental stewardship.
Learn more about the Biomass Recovery Challenge.
Addressing the Adoption Gap
Despite the numerous accelerators in North America, there remains a significant gap in adoption support for the net zero transition. Recognizing the need to bridge innovators with industry leaders, Foresight introduced the Industry Innovation Challenge program. To date, Foresight has conducted over 65 challenges, establishing itself as the only North American accelerator linking cleantech ventures with end users. These targeted challenges aim to connect national and international buyers with innovative solutions that enhance efficiency, profitability, and environmental sustainability, thereby addressing the adoption gap for innovators.
Quotes
It’s incredibly encouraging to see companies adopting cleantech solutions that unlock new opportunities in their industries. As a key pillar of Canada’s economy, the forestry sector’s efforts to embrace more sustainable practices highlight Canada’s ability to progress toward net zero targets, proving that sustainability and profitability coexist. We’re excited to partner with Groupe Savoie on this new Challenge and look forward to the innovative outcomes it will bring.
Jeanette Jackson CEO, Foresight Canada
Canada has a great deal to be proud of when it comes to our forestry sector, particularly when industry leaders like Groupe Savoie are driving progress toward a more sustainable future for our environment and our country. As the global economic landscape evolves, it’s clear that Canada is actively playing a role in its transformation. We are proud to partner with Groupe Savoie on this Challenge and look forward to the impact it will have.
Zak Miko Manager, Bioeconomy, Foresight Canada
The biomass recovery project is crucial for Groupe Savoie, as it is part of their long-term vision to make efficient use of forest resources while respecting the principles of sustainable management. The company seeks to maximize the use of every tree, transforming wood by-products into environmentally friendly fuels such as pellets, bricks and compressed logs, which offer clean, economical heating solutions. The project also reduces dependence on fossil fuels, while minimizing the waste of raw materials and contributing to environmental conservation.
Yves O’Brien Vice President, Procurement, Groupe Savoie
Groupe Savoie and other companies across New Brunswick are embracing green technologies to unlock value, access new markets, and drive the transition to a low-carbon economy. By fostering partnerships with cleantech experts like Foresight Canada, NBIF is accelerating the development of innovative solutions that advance industries, address sustainability challenges, and create lasting economic opportunities for the province.
Jeff White CEO, NBIF
About Group Savoie
Founded in 1978, Group Savoie has built a strong reputation as a leading producer of a wide range of top-quality hardwood products, including pallets and pallet components, cabinet and furniture components, hardwood lumber, tone wood components, ecological fuels, wood chips, and more. Their vertically integrated business model ensures optimal processing and transformation of forest resources into premium hardwood products.
Groupe Savoie’s vision is to be a company recognized for adding the maximum value to available forest resources. Their mission has always been to manufacture products of exceptional quality—all while ensuring sustainable forest practices and contributing to the development and quality of life of our employees and communities.
About NBIF
The New Brunswick Innovation Foundation (NBIF) helps people propel their innovative ideas onto the global stage. Since 2003, NBIF has invested more than $175M into startup businesses and applied research in New Brunswick. These foundational investments have attracted an $825M of additional investment, giving New Brunswick innovators $1B to take their ideas further.
About Foresight Canada
Foresight Canada helps the world do more with less, sustainably. As Canada's largest cleantech innovation and adoption accelerator, they connect public and private sectors to the world’s best clean technologies, de-risking and simplifying the adoption of innovative solutions that improve productivity, profitability, and economic competitiveness, all while addressing today’s most urgent climate challenges.
