Saskatchewan Polytechnic has purchased a state-of-the-art agricultural biomass processing line.

Research Chair of Innovative Manufacturing, Dr. Satya Panigrahi, says the province has a lot of excess organic materials such as straw, stalks, and husks, and instead of letting it go to waste, this equipment will allow it to be turned into commercially sustainable and environmentally friendly products.

“These materials, we are able to separate with this biomass processing line. We can separate it, we can clean it, and use (it) for different applications from industry to Indigenous housing, too,” he stated.

The equipment will be located at Sask. Polytech’s Biomaterials Testing and Prototyping facility in Hafford, about 100 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon.

“Sask. Polytech has had presence there for the last 4-5 years. We have an existing fibre processing facility there where we process animal fibre like alpaca and bison.” The facility is called the Biomaterials Testing and Prototyping facility.

Panigrahi says industry representatives interested in fibre processing can also come and learn, and eventually become trained to process materials themselves. The new equipment will also provide students with additional research tools.

“The students can get training in that facility… and if the student has a project they can go and use the facility.”

Project funding was provided through the Canada Foundation for Innovation and Innovation Saskatchewan.