Rotorua Innovations Conference To Spotlight Natural Fibre Revolution

Industry leaders and innovators to gather for groundbreaking event: There’s a revolution happening in the forest industry that’s largely hidden from the public. It’s happening on the back of the expertise of a new breed of scientists, set on extracting and processing of natural chemicals hidden in wood fibres. Their business cases and commercial activities are starting to expand and accelerate.

In mid-October, a new Bioeconomy Innovations Conference is coming to Rotorua and will include a range of new innovators using natural fibres from our land and sea. One well-established local example will be showcased after a decade of growth. Among others, AgriSea director Clare Bradley will document their challenges and successes in extracting value from fibres. Their seaweed-based products are now used in agriculture, viticulture, horticulture, and apiculture industries in New Zealand and export markets.

Speakers from New Zealand, Canada and Scandinavia will show how chemical process experts and entrepreneurs are busy unlocking chemicals from a range of primary industry fibres It’s small but has significant growth potential. Many are in early stage commercialisation. The business cases is stand on the shoulders of the science of tapping into nature’s storage of a vast array of renewable chemicals. These innovations are set to replace everyday chemicals in our lives currently made from fossil fuels.

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Many forest industry leaders will be there to get a first-hand glimpse at the business startups and high value chemicals being tapped for commercial use.

The new conference joins our long-standing Residues2Revenues Conference also running at the same time as our new event. These developments coincide with Government’s creation of a new Bioeconomy Science Institute, combining the four major land-based research organisations including Scion, AgResearch, Landcare Research and Plant & Food Research.

Local entrepreneurs unlocking new sustainable products from wood fibre include Carbona, Futurity Bio-Ventures and Foresta. These innovative companies will be joined by science business leaders including:

• Don Roberts, Nawitka Capital Advicors in Canada
• Katariina Torvinen, VTT Finland
• Gerd Unkelbach, UPM Biochemicals in Germany
• Alec Foster, General Manager Bioproducts and Biomanufacturing, Scion
• Paul Stuart, Envertis Consulting and Professor of Chemical Engineering, Canada

Scion’s chemical process experts have also had a hand in helping unlock valuable chemicals for commercial extraction from wood and wood fibre wastes in cooperation with several entrepreneurs. Their team have helped unlock growth opportunities from wood fibres and wood wastes for:

• Envivo Pots
• Coniforme Australia
• Dot Ingredients

To register go to Bioeconomy Innovations 2025 and Residues2Revenues 2025 websites.

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