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Red Leaf Pulp to receive $395K for straw pulping tech

Red Leaf Pulp will receive $395,000 from Innovation Saskatchewan to develop new wheat straw pulping technologies.

The investment is being made through the government agency’s Saskatchewan Advantage Innovation Fund (SAIF).

In March 2021, Agriculture and Agri-Foods Canada also announced that it was providing $495,000 toward this project through its Agricultural Clean Technology Fund. This funding was made possible through provincial support via SAIF.

Construction on Red Leaf Pulp’s $350-million plant begins in 2022. Once the pulping technology has been commercialized, the plant will produce about 182,000 tons per year of market pulp from wheat straw, which can be used to manufacture paper and packaging products.

The plant is expected to create 110 permanent full-time jobs and 250 jobs during construction.

Wheat straw pulp also has the potential to be an environmentally friendly feedstock for paper and single-use consumer packaging, and an additional source of revenue for wheat growers.

“The Saskatchewan Advantage Innovation Fund program is designed to accelerate commercialization of game-changing technological innovations in the province’s core sectors,” says Jeremy Harrison, the minister responsible for Innovation Saskatchewan, in a statement.

“This is another example of Saskatchewan’s commitment to continue investing in ag innovation projects that have potential for high economic impact and we’re excited to see further development of this technology.”

In addition to paper and packaging products, Red Lead Pulp will also work with researchers at the University of Saskatchewan to identify and develop additional high-value applications.

“Red Leaf Pulp is very appreciative of the support that Innovation Saskatchewan has shown through the SAIF program for the development of our project,” says Red Leaf Pulp CEO Martin Pudlas.

“This is strong indication of the province’s commitment to reducing carbon and promoting enhanced utilization and efficiency in the agricultural sector.”