Bright biofutures: the envoy kicking goals in Queensland

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The diverse biofutures industry, which encompasses biofuels, bioplastics and biochemicals, is undergoing swift development internationally. In 2016, the Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning engaged a Biofutures Industry Envoy, Professor Ian O’Hara, to champion its benefits for Queenslanders.

Armed with the state’s world-class research in agricultural and bioindustrial product development, freight and farming infrastructure and through harnessing Queensland’s opportunity to become the nation’s gateway to fast-growing Asia-Pacific economies, Professor O’Hara has facilitated compelling progress over the past six years, in line with the Queensland Government’s initial 10-year Roadmap, released in 2016.

Who is Queensland’s Biofutures Envoy?

Professor O’Hara was nominated as the Biofutures Industry Envoy because of his established industry reputation, enabling him to actively promote Queensland as an investment destination, connecting technology providers, research institutions and raw material suppliers.

Professor O'Hara honed his skills for identifying bio-based opportunities from the outset of his career, while based in Mackay working in agriculture.

”I actually started my career working in the sugar industry in Queensland,” Professor O’Hara said. “That experience taught me a lot about the how the sector works and the emerging opportunities to grow new markets in high growth industries.”

Thirteen years later, Professor O’Hara took on a role at the Australian Sugar Milling Council, before becoming a Senior Research Fellow at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT), in 2006. More recently, Professor O’Hara has taken on the role of Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, in 2021.

Professor O’Hara paired his agricultural industry knowledge and oversight of the research space with an understanding of new technologies in green chemistry, synthetic biology and advanced manufacturing to emerge with a unique understanding of potential biofutures opportunities. These experiences primed Professor O’Hara as the ideal candidate to become Queensland's inaugural Biofutures Industry Envoy, commencing in 2016.

What does Queensland’s Biofutures Industry Envoy do?

Increasingly, governments, corporations, consumers and their supply chains are looking for solutions to ensure they can participate in decarbonised markets. Fortunately, Professor O’Hara has kept his finger on the pulse of cutting-edge technology and monitors the global market.

Professor O’Hara described his role in the biofutures sector as “using sustainable raw materials and sustainable feedstocks to produce high value, renewable, sustainable products, and in doing so, creating opportunities for jobs and economic growth in regional and rural areas.”

As a Chemical Engineer with extensive research, process design and policy management experience, Professor O’Hara is currently focused on the economic and technical development of biofuel and bioproduct production systems.

With Professor O’Hara’s help, Queensland’s aviation, maritime, heavy vehicles and construction sectors can become more efficient by addressing their energy, waste and emissions challenges by incorporating biofutures solutions. Companies can position themselves as more sustainable, by flipping the conversation from waste to repurposed resources.

“I don't tend to use the word waste. We tend to think about biobased resources,” Professor O’Hara said.

Conquering supply chain vulnerabilities

Queensland has already achieved significant biofutures milestones that can address supply chain vulnerabilities, by re-shoring manufacturing and pioneering new applications for products from bioethanol and sugarcane bagasse. This will create further economic opportunities for the wider community, including skilled jobs, which makes Queensland a sought-after destination for investment.

“Queensland far and away is the national leader in this sector – it has been well recognised,” Professor O’Hara said.

Bridging the gap: relationships and policies

As Envoy, Professor O’Hara is bridging the gap between national and international industry contacts with the Queensland Government to drive investment within the state.

“The ability to identify the industry demand connected with new rapid technology development has meant that I've been able to connect with people across the spectrum, to provide advice and build relationships,” said Professor O’Hara.

For instance, Professor O’Hara led the development of the Mackay Renewable Biocommodities Pilot Plant – which has supported numerous companies to develop technology including Mercurius Australia.

His support and advice helped facilitate a policy environment which successfully positioned Queensland as a leader in biofutures.

“Much of the cost competitiveness depends upon the policy environment that exists, in addition to improvements in technology,” Professor O’Hara said.

Building on Queensland’s biofutures foothold

Queensland has already seen investment in biofutures from both local and international companies, and the Biofutures Industry Envoy has a pipeline of interested parties.

“We've seen some exciting new projects being developed by Queensland-based enterprises whether they be farmers or startup companies and we are also seeing strong interest from international companies for larger investments as well,” Professor O’Hara said. “So I think there is plenty of opportunity within the ecosystem across a range of project scales.”

Biofutures accomplishments in Queensland include:

• Two state-of-the-art buses ran on bioethanol in Mackay, as of mid 2022.
• Locally produced biodiesel powered an ANL container ship on a 42 day international voyage, in early 2022.
• Southern Oil Refining built the Northern Oil Advanced Biofuels Pilot Plant, which produced over one million litres of bio crude oil for maritime use, within three years.
• Kilcoy Global Foods produced biogas onsite to generate power for 80% of the company’s needs, as a meat processing facility.

Future foods: Alternative protein

Queensland also has budding potential for the development of alternative protein. With abundant sugar resources, regional manufacturing capability and growing markets in Asia Professor O’Hara suggested “Queensland would be an ideal location for developing a large scale future foods industry.”

Feedstock fervour

While the sugarcane industry has significant potential as an early adopter of biofutures solutions it certainly isn’t the only feedstock option, as Professor O’Hara outlined untapped opportunities such as forestry residues.

“We can see great examples from the livestock sector of tallow being able to be used for producing sustainable aviation fuels and for the potential to convert things like cotton gin trash into new biobased materials, bioplastics,” Professor O’Hara said.

“The ability to use textile residues again – to recycle and reclaim polyester, but also being able to then use municipal wastes to produce energy, or perhaps even one day be upgraded into synthetic fuels.”

Municipal waste potential

As for which biofutures projects we can expect to see next in Queensland, Professor O’Hara anticipated household waste will be repurposed.

“We are seeing companies interested in how we can utilise the waste resources from municipal areas including soft plastics,” he said.

The Biofutures Industry Envoy also hinted Queenslanders should stay tuned for updates in the future foods and SAF space, saying “They could happen sooner rather than later.”

Professor O’Hara has spearheaded the establishment of the biofutures industry in Queensland, working alongside the state government to accomplish landmark initiatives. The updated Roadmap and Action Plan, released in June 2022, details how his extended appointment will empower the Queensland Government to continue leveraging his biofutures expertise.

Businesses are encouraged to contact the Biofutures team to explore opportunities to embrace biofuels.

Discover Queensland’s biofutures achievements, or learn more about how biofuels are being used in Queensland.

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