A provincial task force has recommended the Saskatchewan government call for a national biodiesel mandate of two percent by 2010 and five percent by 2015.
The Biodiesel Development Task Force, appointed a year ago by agriculture minister Mark Wartman, also wants all biodiesel to meet approved Canadian standards and be certified.
And, it wants a national bioproducts centre established in Saskatoon to conduct and co-ordinate research into all biofuel.
The task force presented its report to Wartman in front of a display of New Holland tractors, all capable of running on a 20 percent blend of biodiesel, at the Western Canada Farm Progress Show June 21.
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Co-chair Darin Egert, who is also president of the Saskatchewan Canola Growers Association, said producers must participate in the development of the biodiesel industry in order to see as many benefits as possible.
The alternative market that biodiesel presents for canola seed “particularly in a season when we have off-quality canola seed which has very little food value” is the first benefit farmers will see.
The second is the value farmers can get from investing in the industry.
“The value is in the production of it,” he said.
“I encourage producers to get involved by teaming up with other farmers in the area to build the facilities needed for biodiesel.”
Egert said the next step for the task force is to develop a handbook to help those who want to set up such facilities.
The task force said there should be separate mandates for biodiesel and ethanol so there is room for both in the renewable fuels market.
Doug Warrener, western Canadian sales director for New Holland, said the advantages of biodiesel are really for the farmer.
“To us, whether we use diesel or biodiesel, it doesn’t really matter, but at the end of the day if the farmer can grow canola, process it right here, add it to their fuel tanks with some regulations to make sure the quality is there, it just makes sense,” he said.
Warrener said New Holland is leading the industry by offering engines capable of handling B20, when most manufacturers are only at B2 or B5. The company offers a warranty on engines it has manufactured that can use B20.
He said it’s critical that biodiesel quality be regulated to keep all engines operating smoothly.
He added that farmers won’t pay more for tractors with these types of engines.
