Innovation Anthology #89: President and Executive Producer
One day soon, the golden wheat fields of the prairies may be replaced by the heavenly blue of flax.
Flax is the bioeconomy crop of the 21st century. That’s according to Linda Braun, executive director of the Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission.
She was among the many scientists, farmers and manufacturers who came from across Canada to discuss biofibres at a symposium sponsored by the Alberta Research Council.
The straw and oil from flax can be processed as alternatives to petrochemicals and pulp, and still be used for food.
LINDA BRAUN: The most well known of course is the Omega 3 oils. And then if we look at the straw, we’re finding linseed flax, or oil seed flax as we call it in Canada, has a lot of uses if it’s retted and managed properly. So complete plant utilization. And that’s the true bioceconomy, because we’re using a crop that we already have in existence, making it even more sustainable by providing more economic returns to farmers and providing a diverse product line for consumers.
Linda Braun says plant breeders are developing flax for a shorter growing season, and Canada’s cooler nights produce a superior flax oil for the health food market.
Thanks today to the Alberta Research Council.
FOR INNOVATION ANTHOLOGY, I’M CHERYL CROUCHER
Guest
Jacques-Andre Dupont,
X3 Productions, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, jadupont@x3productions.ca
Sponsor
Alberta Research Council
Established as the first provincial research organization in Canada, the Alberta Research Council is 85 years old. The Alberta Research Council (ARC) develops and commercializes technologies to give customers a competitive advantage. A leader in innovation, ARC provides solutions globally to the energy, life sciences, agriculture, environment, forestry and manufacturing sectors.
ARC performs about five per cent of the roughly $1.5 billion in R&D done in Alberta each year, and generates revenues of approximately $84 million per year. ARC operates from five sites across the province in Edmonton, Calgary, Vegreville and Devon and employs more than 600 highly-skilled people.
In January 2010, under the new Alberta Innovation Framework, the Alberta Research Council was restructured and incorporated into the new provincial agency Alberta Innovates Technology Futures.
Program Date: 2007-12-04