Indigenous Forest Bioeconomy Program (IFBP)

The Indigenous Forest Bioeconomy Program (IFBP) enables Indigenous communities to unlock the economic, social, and environmental benefits of their participation in BC’s forest sector with partners across BC, through specific project support. These projects are related to the development and expansion of BC’s bioeconomy, and they include the development of bioproducts from concept to commercialization, including fibre capture logistics, and biomass supply and processing analysis. The IFBP is guided by the goals, principles, and objectives of the Indigenous Forest Bioeconomy Framework, which was developed through collaboration and engagement with numerous First Nations and Indigenous organizations.

Funding will be provided to enable an applicant to, for example:

• Conduct feasibility studies;
• Complete research integral to future economic development opportunities; and/or
• Advance a fledgling business or to grow an existing venture by supporting First Nations communities in cultivating projects that reflect their needs, goals, and values.

Examples of projects that may be supported include:

• Fibre utilization feasibility studies;
• Biomass supplies and processing analyses;
• Assessment of residuals as a supply for processing facilities;
• Non-timber forest products (e.g., essential oils, processed foods, teas, etc.);
• Business cases;
• Market analyses for businesses using wood biomass; and
• E-commerce platform launch and other marketing ventures.

Communities must fall into one of the following categories to qualify as eligible to receive funding:

• a First Nation “band” as defined by the Indian Act (Canada):
• a First Nation governing body, representing exclusively one or more First Nations; or
• a First Nation enterprise (e.g. a non-governing body such as an economic development arm of a First Nation) with the support of the Nation

Many community partners provide a 20% investment in the overall cost of their project. It is recognized that this can sometimes create an undue barrier in accessing/leveraging additional funding and IBIO seeks to identify solutions collaboratively to ensure that we can support successful Indigenous-led projects and businesses. Contact IBIO.Mail@gov.bc.ca to discuss if this could pose a barrier to your project.

Stacking of funding is permitted through the IFBP. 

In order to be eligible for funding under the Indigenous Forest Bioeconomy Program, projects must:- Have community support;- Be located (or have a major component located) in BC;- Utilize forest biomass; and,- Provide social, economic and environmental benefits. 

Communities must fall into one of the following categories to qualify as eligible to receive funding:
a) A First Nation “band” as defined by the Indian Act (Canada);
b) A First Nation governing body, representing exclusively one or more First Nations; or
c) A First Nation enterprise (e.g. a non-governing body such as an economic development arm of a First Nation, a business, an organization) with the support of the Nation

The amount of funding available will depend on the type of project being pursued and the unique requirements of each project. However, general ranges of past projects have been $10,000 to $25,000 for scoping to assessment phases, $20,000 to $75,000 for testing to demonstration phases, and $25,000+ for commercialization to scale-up phases.

 

Indigenous Forest Bioeconomy Program previous project examples