Guiding sustainable bio-industrial synergies for optimal GHG mitigation and regional economic development

Many Canadian natural-resource industries face economic challenges to their continued operational viability. These have been keenly felt in rural economies where one large industrial employer ofttimes underpins the economic vibrancy of the region. The loss of such industries has had a carry-over affect on secondary and tertiary industries and can interfer with functioning supply-chain resulting in higher costs for basic amenities and higher carbon footprints. Industrial Cape Breton is one such region negatively impacted by the demise of numerous large industrial operations. An unemployment rate of 18.5% is exacerbated by sky-rocking food and energy prices, diminishing pools of skilled labour and a continued policy focus of cash injection into traditional operations. The focus of this research is for researchers from Dalhousie and CBU's industrial research unit - the Verschuren Centre - to collaborate with Port Hawkesbury Paper LP (PHP) and Potlotek First Nation to pursue the creation of an industrial symbiosis network to support 3 distinct regional benefits: 1) improve the economic viability of PHP's operation by creating new sources of revenue through the re-allocation of existing waste resources; 2) address environmental concerns by improving PHPs effluent management and reducing GHG intensity; and 3) support business development linked to low-carbon, efficient production of food, fuel and/or fiber - focused on aquaculture and cold-weather greenhouse operations. This research addresses two NSERC's Target Areas: Environment and Agriculture (topics 3 & 4); and Natural Resource and Energy (topic 1). The broader objective is the development/testing of a decision support framework to guide system design of industrial symbiosis networks, optimizing the system-wide utility of such configurations according to 3 elements - reduced GHG emissions, improved resource efficiency, and increased economic output. The ultimate objective is to produce a framework that can rigorously evaluate the efficiency of existing industrial symbiotic networks, and guide the development of new integrated industrial networks to reinvigorate traditional industrial operations through novel collaborations with new industrial partners.