Canada: Hemp composites producer receives 10 million to build facilities

INCA Renewtech, a Canadian producer of hemp composites based in Kelowna, Alberta, has received a CAD 10 million grant (about €6,9 million) to develop a factory that will produce products for the automotive, marine, wind and of consumer goods. The funds provided by the Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) as part of the Circular Economy Challenge, will help INCA build a state-of-the-art hemp composite manufacturing and processing plant in Vegreville, Alberta.

The new plant will cover almost 18,580 square meters and produce refined short and long fibers to replace scarce balsa wood in boats, wind turbine blades, car parts and components for the railway industry.

INCA already provides winnebago industries panels for recreational vehicles and truck trailers and has partnerships with the composite manufacturer boy and Toyota North America. The company is also finalizing joint development agreements with Canadian and US polymer producers.

The donation will allow INCA to accelerate the construction of the factory, which should be operational in early 2024. INCA estimates that, when it reaches capacity, the factory will purchase 54.000 tons of plant stems per year from Alberta hemp producers, employ 270 people and will pay C$51 million (€35 million) in provincial and federal taxes over the next decade.

The total investment in the factory, which will be located in an industrial installation of around 7,3 hectares, is estimated at 72 million Canadian dollars (49,5 million euros).

The Circular Economy Challenge, a C$58 million (€39,9 million) fund set up by the provincial government, is focused on advancing innovations that will reduce the impacts of producing, processing and disposing of materials, while supporting economic development.

The approximately 30 projects that received funding support the reduction of waste, substitution of materials and raw materials, recycling of innovative plastics and recovery of value. The projects are estimated to create 1.835 jobs per year in Alberta and have an impact of CAD 350 million (EUR 240,7 million) on the province's GDP by 2025.

To support the development of innovative clean technology solutions and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, ERA invests revenue from carbon taxes paid by large emitters. INCA also received a grant of CAD 400 (275 euros) from the Ministry of Agriculture last year to support the new facilities.

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João Xabregas

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With a professional background in CAD technical drawing (2D and 3D), João Xabregas is an activist and advocate for all uses and applications of cannabis. He discovered and entered the world of cannabis during his youth, where he developed a special interest in the cultivation of the plant, which led him on a journey of self-learning through the world of cannabis that continues to this day. His adventures linked to cannabis cultivation began with the same goal as many others: to be able to guarantee the quality and eliminate any possible risks to his health of what he consumed, as well as to avoid any type of dependence on the illicit market. However, he quickly began to view the world of cannabis and everything related to it with a very different perspective. He admits the enormous passion he has for the most persecuted plant in the world and about which he is always willing to write and have a good conversation.

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