Bioproducts Production and Development Survey, 2015
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Released: 2016-12-21
In 2015, 190 businesses reported $4.3 billion in revenues from bioproducts. Biofuel accounted for $2.7 billion or almost two-thirds of the bioproducts total. From a revenue standpoint, bioproducts sales accounted for 45.3% of the total sales (bioproducts and others) of those businesses. In 2015, 4,118 employees were engaged in bioproduct production (including research and development) and 1,500 employees worked in biomass improvement.
The Bioproducts Production and Development Survey 2015 was conducted on behalf of Agriculture and Agri-food Canada. This survey, which was previously conducted in 2003, 2006 and 2009, provides statistical information on the characteristics and activities of businesses in Canada that develop and/or produce bioproducts. The survey only includes bioproducts made from biomass and excludes food, nutraceuticals, feed (livestock feed and pet food), medicines, and forestry-based bioproducts produced in a traditional way (such as lumber and paper).
In 2015, businesses involved in bioproducts spent approximately $112.1 million, or 1.2% of their total revenues, on in-house research and development (R&D). Of these total R&D expenses, 65.1% were spent for bioproducts, 18.7% for other activities and 16.2% for biomass.
Small businesses (49 or fewer employees) represented 74.7% of all businesses surveyed. Mid-size businesses (50 to 149 employees) accounted for 13.7% of the total number of businesses, and large businesses (150 or more employees) accounted for 11.6%.
In 2015, 34.2% of businesses reported 6 to 10 years of activity in bioproducts, while 25.8% said they had been active for 5 years or less and 9.5% for 11 to 15 years. The remaining 30.5% of businesses reported 16 or more years of activity in bioproducts.
Note to readers
The current release presents statistics at the Canada level. Regional level data will be available in early 2017 in an upcoming working paper.
Contact information
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