Biomass Survey - Questions for Policy Makers and Legislators

We are a group of graduate students surveying biomass production and utilization and its economic, social and environmental impacts on society. Sustainability is a key to withstand extreme environmental conditions and control everlasting climate change in today's world. We have created this survey solely based on your interests and expertise. We believe your contribution to this survey will be of great help in understanding the current status of biomass production and its economic and environmental impacts.

Department of Plant Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Macdonald Campus:
Mohammed Antar - Ph.D. Student
Dongmei Lyu - Ph.D. Student
Mahtab Nazari - Ph.D. Student
Ateeq Shah - MSc Student

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* 1. Your affiliation

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* 2. Your location

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* 3. What is your area of interest related to biomass utilization?

Biomass production

Bioheat/biopower utilization

Transportation biofuel

High-value bioproducts

Other (please specify)

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* 4. Canada is one of the most resource-based countries globally but is still far behind in biomass and biofuel production as an underpinning to the overall bioeconomy. Please rank the following in terms of importance for addressing this shortfall, from 1 to 5, where 1 is the most important and 5 is the least important.

	1	2	3	4	5
Insufficient government encouragement through legislation	Insufficient government encouragement through legislation 1	Insufficient government encouragement through legislation 2	Insufficient government encouragement through legislation 3	Insufficient government encouragement through legislation 4	Insufficient government encouragement through legislation 5
Excessive regulation	Excessive regulation 1	Excessive regulation 2	Excessive regulation 3	Excessive regulation 4	Excessive regulation 5
Insufficient government encouragement through subsidies and other financings	Insufficient government encouragement through subsidies and other financings 1	Insufficient government encouragement through subsidies and other financings 2	Insufficient government encouragement through subsidies and other financings 3	Insufficient government encouragement through subsidies and other financings 4	Insufficient government encouragement through subsidies and other financings 5
Insufficient research and development	Insufficient research and development 1	Insufficient research and development 2	Insufficient research and development 3	Insufficient research and development 4	Insufficient research and development 5
Poor public perception	Poor public perception 1	Poor public perception 2	Poor public perception 3	Poor public perception 4	Poor public perception 5

Other (please specify)

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* 5. The followings are actions that consumers/producers/farmers/stakeholders could take to enhance biomass production and utilization. Please rank these actions in terms of importance for enhancing biomass production and utilization, from 1 to 4, where 1 is the most important and 4 is the least important.

	1	2	3	4
Inform their sector as much as possible, including organizing meetings, etc.	Inform their sector as much as possible, including organizing meetings, etc. 1	Inform their sector as much as possible, including organizing meetings, etc. 2	Inform their sector as much as possible, including organizing meetings, etc. 3	Inform their sector as much as possible, including organizing meetings, etc. 4
Encourage politicians to consider and support the development of this sector	Encourage politicians to consider and support the development of this sector 1	Encourage politicians to consider and support the development of this sector 2	Encourage politicians to consider and support the development of this sector 3	Encourage politicians to consider and support the development of this sector 4
Promote utilization of biobased energy and other bio-materials	Promote utilization of biobased energy and other bio-materials 1	Promote utilization of biobased energy and other bio-materials 2	Promote utilization of biobased energy and other bio-materials 3	Promote utilization of biobased energy and other bio-materials 4
Encourage related research	Encourage related research 1	Encourage related research 2	Encourage related research 3	Encourage related research 4

Other (please specify)

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* 6. Would you be willing to attend a training course, workshops or study-tours regarding biomass and biofuel production? If yes, which aspects you like to consider? If no, what is your concern?

Yes (Please explain)

No (Please explain)

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* 7. The following are roles biomass production could play in Canada's economy. Please rank these roles, from 1 to 4, in terms of potential importance for the Canadian economy, where 1 is the most important and 4 is the least important.

	1	2	3	4
Production of advanced biofuels	Production of advanced biofuels 1	Production of advanced biofuels 2	Production of advanced biofuels 3	Production of advanced biofuels 4
Production of heat	Production of heat 1	Production of heat 2	Production of heat 3	Production of heat 4
Production of bioproducts	Production of bioproducts 1	Production of bioproducts 2	Production of bioproducts 3	Production of bioproducts 4
Fueling the bioeconomy	Fueling the bioeconomy 1	Fueling the bioeconomy 2	Fueling the bioeconomy 3	Fueling the bioeconomy 4

Other (please specify)

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* 8. The following is a list of potential types of agricultural sector legislation that could encourage renewable energy generation amongst small-scale businesses and farms. Please rank these from 1 to 4, where 1 is the most important and 4 is the least important.

	1	2	3	4
Subsidies linked to carbon credits	Subsidies linked to carbon credits 1	Subsidies linked to carbon credits 2	Subsidies linked to carbon credits 3	Subsidies linked to carbon credits 4
Subsidies linked to carbon taxes	Subsidies linked to carbon taxes 1	Subsidies linked to carbon taxes 2	Subsidies linked to carbon taxes 3	Subsidies linked to carbon taxes 4
Subsidies not linked to government revenue sources	Subsidies not linked to government revenue sources 1	Subsidies not linked to government revenue sources 2	Subsidies not linked to government revenue sources 3	Subsidies not linked to government revenue sources 4
The compulsion to produce biomass	The compulsion to produce biomass 1	The compulsion to produce biomass 2	The compulsion to produce biomass 3	The compulsion to produce biomass 4

Other (please specify)

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* 9. How can government supports shift the situation from "food vs fuel" to "food AND fuel"? Please rank the following list from 1 to 4, where 1 is the most important and 4 is the least important.

	1	2	3	4
Encourage use of sustainable inputs that enhance crop growth, and in the case of food crops, enhance the production of residue biomass	Encourage use of sustainable inputs that enhance crop growth, and in the case of food crops, enhance the production of residue biomass 1	Encourage use of sustainable inputs that enhance crop growth, and in the case of food crops, enhance the production of residue biomass 2	Encourage use of sustainable inputs that enhance crop growth, and in the case of food crops, enhance the production of residue biomass 3	Encourage use of sustainable inputs that enhance crop growth, and in the case of food crops, enhance the production of residue biomass 4
Encourage biomass crop production on marginal lands not used for food crop production	Encourage biomass crop production on marginal lands not used for food crop production 1	Encourage biomass crop production on marginal lands not used for food crop production 2	Encourage biomass crop production on marginal lands not used for food crop production 3	Encourage biomass crop production on marginal lands not used for food crop production 4
Provide subsidies for the use of lingo-cellulosic biomass in the bioeconomy	Provide subsidies for the use of lingo-cellulosic biomass in the bioeconomy 1	Provide subsidies for the use of lingo-cellulosic biomass in the bioeconomy 2	Provide subsidies for the use of lingo-cellulosic biomass in the bioeconomy 3	Provide subsidies for the use of lingo-cellulosic biomass in the bioeconomy 4
Remove supports for the use of food material in biofuel production	Remove supports for the use of food material in biofuel production 1	Remove supports for the use of food material in biofuel production 2	Remove supports for the use of food material in biofuel production 3	Remove supports for the use of food material in biofuel production 4

Other (please specify)

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* 10. Regarding methods by which the government better understands knowledge regarding business models and supply chain logistics related to biomass and bioproducts, and thereby supporting relevant industries and producers, please rank the following from 1 to 5, where 1 is the most important and 5 is the least important.

	1	2	3	4	5
Establish a group to collect and synthesis such information into a national report	Establish a group to collect and synthesis such information into a national report 1	Establish a group to collect and synthesis such information into a national report 2	Establish a group to collect and synthesis such information into a national report 3	Establish a group to collect and synthesis such information into a national report 4	Establish a group to collect and synthesis such information into a national report 5
Establish an agency that chronically collects information on this area and produces annual reports	Establish an agency that chronically collects information on this area and produces annual reports 1	Establish an agency that chronically collects information on this area and produces annual reports 2	Establish an agency that chronically collects information on this area and produces annual reports 3	Establish an agency that chronically collects information on this area and produces annual reports 4	Establish an agency that chronically collects information on this area and produces annual reports 5
Assign an existing group, following the Statistics Canada model, to collect this information and make it available	Assign an existing group, following the Statistics Canada model, to collect this information and make it available 1	Assign an existing group, following the Statistics Canada model, to collect this information and make it available 2	Assign an existing group, following the Statistics Canada model, to collect this information and make it available 3	Assign an existing group, following the Statistics Canada model, to collect this information and make it available 4	Assign an existing group, following the Statistics Canada model, to collect this information and make it available 5
Support regular industry and producer meetings with a required output that provides this information	Support regular industry and producer meetings with a required output that provides this information 1	Support regular industry and producer meetings with a required output that provides this information 2	Support regular industry and producer meetings with a required output that provides this information 3	Support regular industry and producer meetings with a required output that provides this information 4	Support regular industry and producer meetings with a required output that provides this information 5
Encourage and fund academic research that collects and analyzes this information	Encourage and fund academic research that collects and analyzes this information 1	Encourage and fund academic research that collects and analyzes this information 2	Encourage and fund academic research that collects and analyzes this information 3	Encourage and fund academic research that collects and analyzes this information 4	Encourage and fund academic research that collects and analyzes this information 5

Other (please specify)

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* 11. The list below are mechanisms by which government could increase knowledge and technology transfer to agricultural operators who wish to engage in biomass value chains. Please rank these from 1 to 4, where 1 is the most important and 4 is the least important.

	1	2	3	4
Encourage research in the area and ensure that this research, when not conducted by industry itself, is transferred to the industry	Encourage research in the area and ensure that this research, when not conducted by industry itself, is transferred to the industry 1	Encourage research in the area and ensure that this research, when not conducted by industry itself, is transferred to the industry 2	Encourage research in the area and ensure that this research, when not conducted by industry itself, is transferred to the industry 3	Encourage research in the area and ensure that this research, when not conducted by industry itself, is transferred to the industry 4
Produce regular publications around new and developing technologies in this area	Produce regular publications around new and developing technologies in this area 1	Produce regular publications around new and developing technologies in this area 2	Produce regular publications around new and developing technologies in this area 3	Produce regular publications around new and developing technologies in this area 4
Conduct and/or fund others to conduct regular meetings and webinars in this area	Conduct and/or fund others to conduct regular meetings and webinars in this area 1	Conduct and/or fund others to conduct regular meetings and webinars in this area 2	Conduct and/or fund others to conduct regular meetings and webinars in this area 3	Conduct and/or fund others to conduct regular meetings and webinars in this area 4
Develop mechanisms to link the relevant applied research community to the potential resulting technology users	Develop mechanisms to link the relevant applied research community to the potential resulting technology users 1	Develop mechanisms to link the relevant applied research community to the potential resulting technology users 2	Develop mechanisms to link the relevant applied research community to the potential resulting technology users 3	Develop mechanisms to link the relevant applied research community to the potential resulting technology users 4

Other (please specify)

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* 12. Below is a list of possible ways the government could encourage farmers and industries to address a situation or issue related to biomass production. Please rank these from 1 to 4, where 1 is the most important and 4 is the least important.

	1	2	3	4
Encourage collaboration with academia or other relevant groups to precisely articulate the issue and possible directions toward solutions	Encourage collaboration with academia or other relevant groups to precisely articulate the issue and possible directions toward solutions 1	Encourage collaboration with academia or other relevant groups to precisely articulate the issue and possible directions toward solutions 2	Encourage collaboration with academia or other relevant groups to precisely articulate the issue and possible directions toward solutions 3	Encourage collaboration with academia or other relevant groups to precisely articulate the issue and possible directions toward solutions 4
Establish a subsidy program to finance work addressing the situations and make the needed transitions/adjustments	Establish a subsidy program to finance work addressing the situations and make the needed transitions/adjustments 1	Establish a subsidy program to finance work addressing the situations and make the needed transitions/adjustments 2	Establish a subsidy program to finance work addressing the situations and make the needed transitions/adjustments 3	Establish a subsidy program to finance work addressing the situations and make the needed transitions/adjustments 4
Establish/fund research programs for industry, government and/or academia to specifically address the situations/challenges	Establish/fund research programs for industry, government and/or academia to specifically address the situations/challenges 1	Establish/fund research programs for industry, government and/or academia to specifically address the situations/challenges 2	Establish/fund research programs for industry, government and/or academia to specifically address the situations/challenges 3	Establish/fund research programs for industry, government and/or academia to specifically address the situations/challenges 4
Encourage regular meetings and webinars among players from all relevant sectors, in which the situations are considered and discussed	Encourage regular meetings and webinars among players from all relevant sectors, in which the situations are considered and discussed 1	Encourage regular meetings and webinars among players from all relevant sectors, in which the situations are considered and discussed 2	Encourage regular meetings and webinars among players from all relevant sectors, in which the situations are considered and discussed 3	Encourage regular meetings and webinars among players from all relevant sectors, in which the situations are considered and discussed 4

Other (please specify)

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* 13. Does the government offer sufficient Industrial Research Assistance Program (such as IRAP) funding to biomass businesses and industries?

Yes (Please explain)

No (Please explain)

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* 14. Does the government (federal, provincial or municipal) offer any programs related or applicable to biomass production? If yes, what are the names of the programs?

Yes (Please explain)

No (Please explain)

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* 15. Below is a list set of possible governmental (federal, provincial, or municipal) support/regulatory programs. Please rank these, in terms of importance, from 1 to 5, where 1 is the most important and 5 is the least important.

	1	2	3	4	5
Programs for technology or knowledge transfer	Programs for technology or knowledge transfer 1	Programs for technology or knowledge transfer 2	Programs for technology or knowledge transfer 3	Programs for technology or knowledge transfer 4	Programs for technology or knowledge transfer 5
Programs for product performance evaluation	Programs for product performance evaluation 1	Programs for product performance evaluation 2	Programs for product performance evaluation 3	Programs for product performance evaluation 4	Programs for product performance evaluation 5
Programs for new standards development	Programs for new standards development 1	Programs for new standards development 2	Programs for new standards development 3	Programs for new standards development 4	Programs for new standards development 5
Programs for process or product environmental assessment	Programs for process or product environmental assessment 1	Programs for process or product environmental assessment 2	Programs for process or product environmental assessment 3	Programs for process or product environmental assessment 4	Programs for process or product environmental assessment 5
Commercialization programs	Commercialization programs 1	Commercialization programs 2	Commercialization programs 3	Commercialization programs 4	Commercialization programs 5

Other (please specify)

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* 16. Below is a set of potential policies and incentives that the government could effectively develop to build on green energy strengths and address climate change while fostering economic growth. Please rank these in order of importance, from 1 to 4, where 1 is the most important and 4 is the least important.

	1	2	3	4
Encourage renewable energy use through carbon taxes and credits	Encourage renewable energy use through carbon taxes and credits 1	Encourage renewable energy use through carbon taxes and credits 2	Encourage renewable energy use through carbon taxes and credits 3	Encourage renewable energy use through carbon taxes and credits 4
Encourage research related to the production of biomass heat, advanced biofuels, and biomass-derived high-value products	Encourage research related to the production of biomass heat, advanced biofuels, and biomass-derived high-value products 1	Encourage research related to the production of biomass heat, advanced biofuels, and biomass-derived high-value products 2	Encourage research related to the production of biomass heat, advanced biofuels, and biomass-derived high-value products 3	Encourage research related to the production of biomass heat, advanced biofuels, and biomass-derived high-value products 4
Facilitate supply-chain improvements for biomass and biofuel movement	Facilitate supply-chain improvements for biomass and biofuel movement 1	Facilitate supply-chain improvements for biomass and biofuel movement 2	Facilitate supply-chain improvements for biomass and biofuel movement 3	Facilitate supply-chain improvements for biomass and biofuel movement 4
Encourage technologies that lead to the development of climate change resilient agriculture	Encourage technologies that lead to the development of climate change resilient agriculture 1	Encourage technologies that lead to the development of climate change resilient agriculture 2	Encourage technologies that lead to the development of climate change resilient agriculture 3	Encourage technologies that lead to the development of climate change resilient agriculture 4

Other (please specify)

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* 17. The list below is of mechanisms by which the government could review and identify policies, regulations, and incentives to support the biomass and bioproducts sector's development in ways that remove barriers to the industry's growth. Please rank these from 1 to 4, where 1 is the most important and 4 is the least important.

	1	2	3	4
Consult widely with the relevant sectors regarding barriers and potential solutions	Consult widely with the relevant sectors regarding barriers and potential solutions 1	Consult widely with the relevant sectors regarding barriers and potential solutions 2	Consult widely with the relevant sectors regarding barriers and potential solutions 3	Consult widely with the relevant sectors regarding barriers and potential solutions 4
Establish funds to support research focused on identifying the barriers and potential solutions	Establish funds to support research focused on identifying the barriers and potential solutions 1	Establish funds to support research focused on identifying the barriers and potential solutions 2	Establish funds to support research focused on identifying the barriers and potential solutions 3	Establish funds to support research focused on identifying the barriers and potential solutions 4
Provide subsidies to fund efforts to remove barriers	Provide subsidies to fund efforts to remove barriers 1	Provide subsidies to fund efforts to remove barriers 2	Provide subsidies to fund efforts to remove barriers 3	Provide subsidies to fund efforts to remove barriers 4
Link funding of barrier removal to carbon credits	Link funding of barrier removal to carbon credits 1	Link funding of barrier removal to carbon credits 2	Link funding of barrier removal to carbon credits 3	Link funding of barrier removal to carbon credits 4

Other (please specify)

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* 18. Is the government sufficiently effective in promoting public knowledge regarding biomass and its production through announcements in major newsprint publications, on radio stations, on TV networks, and from governmental and non-governmental websites, where applicable?

Yes (Please specify)

No (Please specify)

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* 19. The list below includes activities the government could undertake to promote agriculture residue and biomass production as feedstock material supporting the bioeconomy. Please rank these from 1 to 4, where 1 is the most important and 4 is the least important.

	1	2	3	4
Provide carbon credits to biomass producers	Provide carbon credits to biomass producers 1	Provide carbon credits to biomass producers 2	Provide carbon credits to biomass producers 3	Provide carbon credits to biomass producers 4
Subsidize biomass production/exploitation on Canadian farms	Subsidize biomass production/exploitation on Canadian farms 1	Subsidize biomass production/exploitation on Canadian farms 2	Subsidize biomass production/exploitation on Canadian farms 3	Subsidize biomass production/exploitation on Canadian farms 4
Form overarching groups to provide input guiding the area	Form overarching groups to provide input guiding the area 1	Form overarching groups to provide input guiding the area 2	Form overarching groups to provide input guiding the area 3	Form overarching groups to provide input guiding the area 4
Hold webinars and meetings to get feedback from the sectors involved in biomass production and use, to get input from these groups	Hold webinars and meetings to get feedback from the sectors involved in biomass production and use, to get input from these groups 1	Hold webinars and meetings to get feedback from the sectors involved in biomass production and use, to get input from these groups 2	Hold webinars and meetings to get feedback from the sectors involved in biomass production and use, to get input from these groups 3	Hold webinars and meetings to get feedback from the sectors involved in biomass production and use, to get input from these groups 4

Other (please specify)

Thank you for your feedback!