Alberta Technology Takes a Bite Out of the Mountain Pine Beetle

September 8, 2008 - Edmonton

New Alberta technology is poised to shield communities from the devastating impact of the mountain pine beetle.  The breakthrough aims to convert dead trees into high-grade newsprint. Massive tracts of forest throughout Alberta and B.C. have been hit by the beetle, which continues to migrate east.

This $28-million multi-partner research project involves field testing new Alberta-developed sensor technology and equipment modifications at Alberta Newsprint Company's Whitecourt plant.  The new technology will adjust the newsprint process for beetle-killed wood's drier, weaker, and darker characteristics. This installation is part of a broader research and development project that started in 2005 and will continue through to full-scale production in 2015.

"Millions of dead and dying mountain pine beetle-infested trees will be put to commercial use to manufacture newsprint," announced Doug Horner, Minister of Alberta Advanced Education and Technology. "Once again, this is an Alberta first.  It may be welcomed in other parts of Canada and the world facing similar forestry challenges such as other insects, fire and drought."

This project proactively supports the provincial strategy of quickly harvesting susceptible pine trees and beetle-killed wood according to Ted Morton, Minister of Alberta Sustainable Resource Development.  He added, "I am pleased that government and industry are working together to solve some of the new challenges facing our communities. This project will help preserve the economic value of the trees, a healthy forest, and build economic resiliency in our regional communities."

Overcoming major challenges in partnership with industry is a role local municipalities welcome said Jim Rennie, Mayor of Woodlands County.  "Together, we have accomplished something great with new technology, and Woodlands County is proud that our small contribution of $200,000 could help generate new opportunities for our community."

The President and Managing Partner of the Alberta Newsprint Company is pleased that this unique research partnership is uniting industry, government, and scientists to develop solutions for the impending spread of mountain pine beetle within Alberta.  Ron Stern added, "The industry faces growing challenges when processing inferior wood, given today's customer pressures to make even higher quality products. Through our combined efforts we are adopting new Alberta Research Council sensors for high level process control and redesigning the papermaking process to enable mechanical pulp mills to consume inferior fibre."  

This three-year start-up project is supported by investments of almost $17 million from the Alberta Newsprint Company and a $10-million grant from the provincially administered national Community Development Trust (CDT). Other funding partners include the Alberta government, through the Alberta Forestry Research Institute ($600,000) and the Alberta Research Council ($450,000), the National Research Council Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program ($240,000), and Woodlands County ($200,000).  The Government of Canada created the $1-billion Trust to help provinces and territories assist communities and workers facing economic hardship caused by the current volatility in global financial and commodities markets.  Alberta's allocation of the CDT is $104 million.

Alberta Newsprint Company and ARC-affiliated Innoventures Canada will lead this project in the manufacture, installation, calibration and testing of custom-designed equipment and sensors.   

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See how technology is fighting back against the Mountain Pine Beetle (requires flash player, 5.1 MB)

View backgrounder on Mountain Pine Beetle

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