The 2025 COFI Convention spotlighted the theme of innovation in forestry with a session focused on new technologies and opportunities for wood-based construction. Kylie Williams, BC Regional Director for Foresight Canada, introduced the session, emphasizing the critical role of innovation in the face of industry challenges such as fibre supply issues and market uncertainty. “Innovation and collaboration will play a key role in shaping the forestry supply chains of the future,” Williams stated. She introduced the BioNext program, a commercialization network designed to accelerate bioeconomy innovations. Supported by Foresight Canada and Genome BC, the initiative aims to drive Canada’s transition to a net-zero future by providing tailored support to cleantech ventures in the bioeconomy sector. “Since 2022, over 60 ventures from across Canada have participated in BioNext, making incredible strides in the sector,” Williams said.

Williams also highlighted some of the key projects Foresight Canada has supported, including initiatives aimed at better utilizing fiber from wildfire-damaged trees and developing lignin biorefineries at the community level in Quesnel. “We’ve invested nearly $1.9 million into BC’s forest bioeconomy sector to date,” she remarked, pointing to the BC Net Zero Innovation Network and its focus on clean tech solutions for the forest industry.

Tim Caldecott, Senior Director of Sustainable Construction and Carbon & Market Economics at FPInnovations, followed with a discussion on the opportunities for wood-based buildings. He acknowledged the growing interest in wood as a building material but pointed out that the market share of wood-based non-residential buildings remains small. “We need the wood supply to meet these targets,” Caldecott explained. “Everything we do in BC is a demonstration, and we’re an export-driven economy.” He emphasized the need to grow the market for wood in non-residential sectors and highlighted innovations such as composite floor systems and prefabricated CLT panels. “We have room to grow, but we just can’t get to nine million square feet of wood buildings without the right strategies,” he added.

Caldecott also discussed the importance of addressing competitiveness in the wood-based building sector. “The volume is low in some key non-residential markets, like office buildings and warehouses,” he noted. “The challenge is to make these markets more attractive for builders to use wood, which is a more sustainable and cost-effective option.” He introduced the upcoming Woodrise conference in Vancouver in September 2025, where over 1,500 participants from around the world will gather to explore wood-based construction. “It’s an opportunity to share what we’re doing, learn from others, and grow the wood-based construction market,” Caldecott remarked, emphasizing the global platform this event provides.

Todd Sayers, Chief Operating Officer at the BC Centre for Innovation in Clean Energy, closed the session by focusing on diversification and the development of new technologies. He discussed the Centre’s work in biofuels and wildfire mitigation technologies. “We’re working on transforming forest residuals into bio-oils for renewable product refinement, and this is just one example of how innovation can drive sustainability in the forest sector,” Sayers explained. He also highlighted the Centre’s efforts in the biocarbon space, noting the potential of products like biochar for carbon sequestration and their use in agriculture and construction materials. “Biocarbon products provide an opportunity to not only capture and store carbon but also create new material additives for industries,” he said.

Sayers underscored the importance of partnerships in driving these innovations forward. “This requires collaboration with industry, academia, First Nations, and governments to ensure that these solutions are adopted and scaled,” he said. He also shared a call to action, urging attendees to think about how the forest innovation ecosystem can work together to support ventures like Didwood Innovations, which is transforming low-value beetle and wildfire-damaged wood into commercially valuable products.

Drafted with the assistance of digital tools to streamline the process.