Statement made on 12 February 2009 by Senator Lorna Milne (retired)
Hon. Lorna Milne:
Honourable senators, on January 21 it was announced that after over 10 years of extensive research and development in industrial hemp, Stonehedge Bio-Resources Inc. is building a bioprocessing facility in Eastern Ontario to serve North American markets.
Some of the products and co-products are aimed at the automotive, energy, agriculture, construction materials, and pulp and paper markets.
This fibre separation facility is expected to provide new farm income for up to 200 growers, putting thousands of acres into the cultivation of hemp.
Stonehedge Bio-Resources is an Eastern Ontario-based company that has positioned itself to produce industrial hemp-based products aimed at the Carbon Negative, Sustainable Green Building market.
This new investment in the commercial hemp industry in Ontario would not have been possible without the financial support of three foreign investors: Lime Technology Ltd., from the United Kingdom; American Lime Technology, USA; and a private U.K. investor.
These letters of intent represent both the financial investment of over $2 million as well as the formation of a strategic relationship between Stonehedge and some of the world's leaders in the application of industrial hemp.
In 2007, Stonehedge participated in an Ontario-led trade mission to France that led to their introduction to Lime Technology Ltd., one of the companies that will invest $1.5 million in Stonehedge's industrial plant.
Once the plant is up and running, Stonehedge expects to produce more than $17 million per year in renewable hemp fibre, wood-like chips and pellets, as well as matting and seed products.
I hope honourable senators will join me in congratulating Stonehedge Bio-Resources Inc. in obtaining these new investments.
I also applaud the Government of Ontario for providing Stonehedge with advice, expertise and support in building international partnerships.
I look forward to providing honourable senators with my final update on the progress of the industrial hemp industry in Canada in a few weeks' time.