ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. The BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota announces the release of Minnesota’s Forest Biomass Value Chain: A System Dynamics Analysis. The paper is the result of a yearlong project involving over 100 experts in the forestry community to develop a strategy to capitalize on future opportunities in Minnesota’s forestry industry.
“We have seen significant structural change in Minnesota’s forest products industry, creating both short-term and long-term challenges and opportunities for the state,” said Mark Lindquist, Biofuels Program Manager, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. “A thoughtful approach to forest biomass utilization is needed to ensure healthy forests, sustain existing forest related jobs, and grow new industry.”
In July 2009, The BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota partnered with Scott T Johnson, a System Dynamics consultant, and an array of statewide organizations, which included the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Minnesota Forest Resource Council, to identify issues and opportunities in the growth of biomass-based industries, particularly those relating to forest products.
To guide the discussion, The BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota used a method known as System Dynamics modeling. “System Dynamics modeling creates a data-driven framework in which experts from multiple perspectives can interact to solve complex problems,” said Dennis Becker, Assistant Professor with the University of Minnesota Department of Forest Resources. “Too often, important and costly initiatives and policies are undertaken without the data that such analyses can provide.”
During the one year analysis, The Biobusiness Alliance of Minnesota consulted over 100 experts from around the state. Input was received from loggers, existing and emerging industry players, environmental groups, consumers, government and non-government organizations, and academic researchers.
The analysis and input from the community has culminated in BBAM making four recommendations and related actionable tactics that are detailed in the white paper.
“The recommendations focus on sustaining our forest resources while ensuring the long-term availability of forest biomass to supply existing industries, and fostering development of new markets that expand wealth creation opportunities within Minnesota,” said Dale Wahlstrom, CEO of The BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota. “This strategy and vision for a diversified forest-based economy focuses on the issues facing the existing forest products supply chain infrastructure while overlaying them with the needs of emerging industries.”
Utilizing the model, it is predicted that implementation of these strategic recommendations would result in a net gain of 1,400 jobs in the state of Minnesota, including direct and indirect jobs. Furthermore, assurance of a long term stable supply of wood could spur additional investments in the forest products industry. In a ‘best case scenario’ that includes expansions in lumber, OSB, and paper production, in addition to pellet manufacturing, heat and electricity production, and aggressive investment in biofuels and biochemicals shows an estimated 3,300 jobs across the state would be created.
For more information on the strategic process and the statewide recommendations, please go to http://biobusinessalliance.org/publications.asp to read Minnesota’s Forest Biomass Value Chain: A Systems Thinking Analysis.
About The BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota
The BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota (BBAM) is an industry-led, action-based 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of bioscience-related industries to create jobs for the citizens of Minnesota. The charter of BBAM is to bring together all related areas of the biosciences in a coordinated effort to help ensure the long-term health and success of Minnesota’s bioscience industry. BBAM relies on contributions from businesses, foundations, academia, individuals, and government to support its work in ensuring the long-term prosperity of biobusiness in Minnesota. To learn more and to donate go to www.biobusinessalliance.org.