Category Archives: Scientific Developments

The Experimental Lakes Area (ELA) in northwestern Ontario is a unique freshwater research station that encompasses 58 lakes.  The ELA was set up in 1968 for governments and researchers to study the causes and control of eutrophication and other types of water pollution.  This area in northwestern Ontario was a natural choice since the area was relatively unaffected by human influences and industrial activities.

Over the past four decades, research conducted at the ELA has provided the scientific evidence-base on the environmental effects of acid rain, phosphorous and other pollutants that has informed policy within Canada and around the world.

Last spring the federal government decided to cut funding for research and operations of the Experimental Lakes Area (ELA) in northwestern Ontario and began tearing down the facilities.  The estimated cost savings was $2 million annually.

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Researchers from the University of Toronto and SickKids Research Institute have successfully mapped the genes in the fungus (Ophiostoma ulmi) that causes Dutch Elm Disease.

The researchers believe this is the first time the 30 million DNA letters for the fungus Ophiostoma ulmi have been mapped. The findings, published in this week’s online journal BMC Genomics, could help scientists figure out how to prevent the fungus from destroying elm trees in the future.

“Essentially, Dutch Elm Disease is caused by a fungus that prevents the normal distribution of nutrients in the tree by blocking the flow of sap,” said Alan Moses, an Assistant Professor with the University of Toronto’s department of Cell & Systems Biology, one of the authors of the study. “The tree wilts and eventually dies.

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Domtar Corporation has successfully installed a commercial-scale lignin separation plant at its Plymouth, North Carolina mill, the first U.S. facility of its type in over 25 years.

The production of BioChoice™ lignin began in February, with a targeted rate of 75 tons a day, destined for a wide range of industrial applications as a bio-based alternative to the use of petroleum and other fossil fuels.

The successful installation of commercial-scale lignin removal capacity at the Plymouth Mill is the culmination of a research and engineering project launched by Domtar in 2010. This project was further boosted when the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Energy awarded the company a grant through the Biomass Research and Development Initiative. Domtar’s lignin operation sets a new path for the industry and also marks the latest sustainability milestone for a company that has long been recognized as an industry leader in forest certification and environmental stewardship.

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The BioLite wood burning cell phone charger has been spotted in the New York area helping people without power in the wake of Hurricane Sandy charge their devices.

This little device, the BioLite CampStove, can burn wood or other biomass, and turn the heat into electricity.  The stove contains a lithium battery that is charged by the company’s patent-pending thermoelectric technology.  The battery powers a small internal fan that creates airflow, creating an efficient fire.  Surplus electricity powers a USB outlet that can be used to charge your iPhone or other mobile device, or it can be used to power an LED light source.

The stove can also be used to boil water and heat food.  Just 1.6 oz (46g) of wood is needed to boil 1L of wood on the campstove.  It varies based on the strength of the fire, but 1L of water can be boiled in about 4.5 minutes.  Biomass can also be burned, like sticks and pinecones or wood pellets.

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Neekoosa Coated Products in Wisconsin, USA has created what they are calling the “world’s first antimicrobial carbonless paper”.

The paper is made antimicrobial by adding  Biomaster® silver ion technology, a non-toxic, naturally occurring antimicrobial technology to protect the paper’s surface from bacteria.

Clinic studies show that bacteria can live on dry inanimate surfaces, including paper, for several days or months

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Ford is investigating using cellulose in vehicle components to  help further reduce the automaker’s reliance on traditional content such as fiberglass and petroleum.

Ford has been working with Weyerhaeuser for the past 3 years, investigating the use of a plastic composite material utilizing cellulose fibers from trees in place of fiberglass or mineral reinforcements.

Because the cellulose fibers in this new composite come from sustainably grown and harvested trees and related byproducts, such as chips, the environmental impact of building cars could be lessened. Specifically, replacing fiberglass, minerals and/or petroleum with a natural, plant-based material can sequester CO2 and ultimately lead to a smaller carbon footprint, among other benefits.

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A Canadian teenager has discovered that the cellulose of tree pulp has anti-aging properties.

Janelle Tam, 16, has won the $5,000 award in the 2012 Sanofi BioGENEius Challenge Canada.

Janelle is a Grade 12 student at Waterloo Collegiate Institute in Ontario.  Janelle worked alongside Dr. Zhaoling Yao from the University of Waterloo and is the first to show that nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) is a powerful antioxidant, and may be superior to Vitamin C or E because it is more stable and its effectiveness won’t diminish as quickly.

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The Christmas Tree Research Centre at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College is researching how to grow a balsam fir that will stay fresh for longer periods of time.

Christmas tree growers are particularly interested in balsam fir that can retain their needles for longer periods of time, so they can ship their trees to great distances.

The research program is expected to cost $6 million. Once a method or product is developed, the SMART Christmas Tree Research Co-operative intends to patent it.

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A new wood sound abatement system made of B.C. Coastal hem-fir and developed by FPInnovations and Western Forest Products is providing municipalities with a natural, sustainable option to reduce traffic noise.

The environment-friendly and cost-effective wood-concrete hybrid sound-abatement system meets and exceeds code requirements with a smaller environmental footprint than other systems. And it does all this while bringing the warmth and aesthetic appeal of wood to communities adjacent to roads and highways.

The wood barrier is made from sustainably managed hemlock wood products manufactured on Vancouver Island.

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The University of British Columbia welcomed the announcement of $32.6 million in funding from Genome Canada and Genome BC for four research projects aimed at making Canada’s forests healthier and more economically productive.

The funding will support research in the departments of botany, and microbiology and immunology, and in the Faculty of Forestry.

The funded projects aim to develop clean energy alternatives, enhance the use of forest biomass, understand the effects of climate change on the forest and identify trees with superior growth and wood properties.

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