A $60 million biofactory opening in Rotorua next year will give small businesses the opportunity to create and test new bioproducts using materials such as forestry slash. It will also be available to big companies like paper producers to find ways to repurpose organic material into higher-value products.
The factory's processors will take in low-value wood products, food waste, animal products and plastics and through fermentation and enzyme technology convert them into new products. These could be anything from alternative proteins to sustainable aviation fuel. The Biofactory is to be hosted at the Bioeconomy Science Institute - formerly Scion - and it's also been backed by forestry company Timberlands.
The project is based on the Verschuren Centre in Canada, and its chief executive, Beth Mason, is in New Zealand helping with plans for the facility here. Alec Foster leads the bioproducts and packaging portfolio at the institute.
The Scion building in Rotorua Photo: RNZ/Sally Round
