Professionals from the natural resin sector met in Marinha Grande, on March 18, in a workshop of the RN21 Integrated Project, organized by CoLAB ForestWISE, where they expressed their concern about the future

MARINHA GRANDE HOSTED MEETING

In the 1970s, Portugal became the world’s second largest exporter of resin, but this activity has registered a drastic decline, and there are currently about 500 resin workers in the country, according to Marco Ribeiro, president of the Association of Resin Distillers and Explorers (Resipinus).
Among the constraints that the sector faces is the fact that production costs are higher than revenues, along with the “lack of forest management in the national territory, the disorderly growth of the pine forest, the average age of the resin workers, which is 60 years old, and the lack of information on the number of resin
hectares in Portugal”.
With the RN21 Integrated Project, which brings together, for the first time, the entire value chain of the sector in an integrated and mobilizing research and innovation consortium where the modernization and revitalization of one of the most traditional sectors of the national economy is promoted, the conditions are created to leverage the activity.
“This is a key moment to decide what the future is. Whether you want to invest in resin or not”, underlined the president of Resipinus, considering that the way forward involves “genetic improvement, training and professionalization of the resin worker, mechanization of the activity, creation of adapted stimulating
pastes, use of closed containers, remuneration of positive externalities, traceability, certification, valorization of raw material, and implementation of a joint strategy”.
Carlos Fonseca, from CoLAB ForestWISE, considered that the RN21 Integrated Project is a “unique opportunity” to make a transformation in the Natural Resin sector in Portugal.
It should be noted that natural resin is used in the composition of various products, including paints, varnishes, chewing gum, hot glue, rubber, adhesive tapes, among others.

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