biocomposites FEA of the biocomposite tractor hood in closed position FibreCITY is looking at the physical and chemical properties of various natural fibres One of the main concerns for the industrial incorporation of biofibres into the production of various product lines is the variability inherent in the biofibres and the impact that this variability has on final product performance. FibreCITY is the answer to this problem, providing the knowledge to be able to guarantee the quality and performance properties of natural fibres to industry. With this guarantee, the reliance on petroleum-based products is decreasing and possibilities for natural fibres are endless. Fast selection of superior fibre crops different biomass processing techniques. The value chain FibreCITY is working with: - Breeders to design and deliver optimal fibre quality - optimal genetic/environmental combinations and systems biology - Farmers and decorticators to deliver the highest-value products - quality control, managing variability and feedback loops from end of value chain - Material producers to improve the consistency and quality of raw FibreCITY is providing the North American industry with access to the unique opportunity to develop fibre crop varieties, such as flax and hemp, giving producers the option to capture maximum value from straw and its components that would otherwise be destined for landfills. FibreCITY is also accelerating the translation of research from projects such as Total Utilization of Flax Genomics (TUFGEN) into improved feedstocks for the North American industry. FibreCITY is enabling the rapid assessment and selection of superior fibre crops, facilitating premiums for highquality fibres, assisting in maintaining quality control from crop-to-crop and providing a means for industry to model and assess the performance of Biocomposite tractor hood undergoing field testing 10 jec composites magazine / No92 October - November 2014 materials and end products - product testing and fibre input testing - Fabricators to develop new fibrebased products - design guidelines, technology transfer and prototyping - Industry to provide standards and design guidelines for natural fibre products - drafting new standards and standard operating procedures (SOPs) - Biofibre industry market to champion the use of biofibre products - promoting industry and green technologies and identifying new markets. n More information: www.fibrecity.cahttp://www.fibrecity.ca