Canadian PHA project led by Genecis Bioindustries has attracted $6 million in joint financing from Next Generation Manufacturing (NGen), the industry-driven organization driving Canada's Advanced Manufacturing Supercluster.

The objective is to develop, scale, and integrate a biotechnology platform for upcycling food waste into premium sustainable bioplastics and bio fibers.

Genecis will integrate a demonstration-scale technology unit with anaerobic digestion (AD) plant to convert organic waste feedstock into high-value PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoates) biopolymers in collaboration with StormFisher, a developer and operator of organic waste and clean energy solutions.

The platform makes use of existing infrastructure to upcycle waste into high-value materials and chemicals, therefore promoting a circular and bio-based economy.

The first PHA will be used to replace packaging, agricultural plastics, medical plastics, and additive manufacturing filaments. The StormFisher Resource Recovery Centre in Drumbo, Ontario, will host the pilot project, which is meant to recover abandoned packaged food and municipal green bin garbage.

For both the organic waste and plastic sectors, producing huge amounts of high-performance PHAs from these streams will provide considerable economic and environmental benefits. The goal is to solidify Canada's status as a biomanufacturing technology leader.

Ngen CEO, Jayson Myers, said that this project shows NGen's commitment to transformational advanced manufacturing technologies. The Genecis project will employ modern manufacturing technology to radically alter an existing process, giving Canadian businesses access to high-value materials, giving them a competitive edge in the green economy, and producing a waste solution that will address a global environmental issue.

NGen has authorized 105 projects with 242 industry partners, spending $181.2 million and leveraging a total project investment of $437.5 million. NGen investments have resulted in $32 million in new R&D investments from industry, the formation of 15 new businesses, the development of 63 new products, and the production of 177 new IP assets and licensing prospects for NGen members.