The role of forest products as industries of the future has been affirmed with this week’s announcement of funding from the Australian Research Council for new research hubs and training centres. Source: Timberbiz
Funding for the research hubs and training centres, including an Advance Timber for Australia’s Future Built Environment Hub, is provided through the ARC’s Industrial Transformation Research Program.
In 2022 critical industry priorities included advanced manufacturing, agribusiness and recycling and clean energy.
The ARC funding complements other recent commitments to innovation for the sector including the establishment of a $100 million National Institute for Forest Products Innovation and the $300 million Timber Building Program through the Clean Energy Finance Corporation to encourage the use of low emissions engineered mass timber and reduce the carbon footprint of the construction sector.
Acting CEO of the Australian Forest Products Association Victor Violante said the funding highlighted the essential role being played by forest industries in delivering clean and smart solutions for big challenges including addressing climate change and developing next generation products and processes for the building and construction industries.
“Timber is the ultimate renewable and low-emission building material for the 21st century, so it’s terrific the Federal Government through the ARC is backing innovation particularly for next generation engineered wood products and architectural design with advanced manufacturing,” Mr Violante said.
“As Australia looks for ways to reach net zero by 2050, timber in the built environment must be part of that plan. Wood products store carbon over their lifetime meaning that our houses and other buildings can be a massive positive carbon sink.
“It’s also why it is crucial that Australia secures future fibre supplies to meet its needs in com-ing decades, and that we prioritise the Billion Trees Plan.”
Victorian Forest Products Association CEO Deb Kerr said the significant investment of $17.7 million to develop the hubs cements the role forestry can play in fighting climate change,
Three of the four hubs will, directly or indirectly, support forestry.
“Forestry is a future industry – and future-ready,” Ms Kerr said.
“Growing trees and capturing and storing carbon is the most natural process in the world. The fact that wood products keep storing carbon is an often-underestimated bonus of using wood products or building with timber.
“It’s a continuous cycle because foresters replant trees after harvest. At scale, forestry can be an important part of the fight against climate change,” she said.
The Advance Timber for Australia’s Future Built Environment Hub will also explore the potential of engineered wood while supporting Australia’s efforts to reduce carbon in the atmosphere.
Ms Kerr said the timber industry was already investing in engineered wood projects that aim to keep more of our exported wood here in Victoria, supporting Victorian timber plantations, Victorian jobs, Victorian building and construction businesses and of course underpinning our homes and built environment of tomorrow.
“Forestry plays a big role in our everyday lives,” she said.
“It’s a little-known fact that forestry supports up to 115,000 businesses in Victoria, from builders to carpenters, furniture, and instrument makers to paper manufacturers. We look forward to these research hubs supporting sustainable forestry in the future.
“And Victorian forestry companies look forward to continuing providing renewable, sustainable materials for generations to come.”
