Clipping

The Guidance and Supervision Council (COF) of the RN21 Integrated Project, the highest body of the consortium structure, met on February 28 at Espaço Inovação Mealhada, to address various issues within the scope of the management of the Integrated Project. CoLAB ForestWISE®, the leader of this aggregating consortium, hosted the meeting in which the first ordinary session of the Advisory Board also took place.Opening the session was the Councilor of the Municipal Executive of Mealhada, Ricardo Santos, the Project Director, Rogério Rodrigues, and the CTO of CoLAB ForestWISE®, Carlos Fonseca, who reinforced the “importance of showing the good that is being done in this consortium that is essential to share with the partners who accompany us”.This was followed by the presentation of more than 20 measures, which are part of the three pillars on which the RN21 Integrated Project is based, namely: the promotion of the production of national natural resin (pillar I); strengthening the sustainability of manufacturing (pillar II); and the positive differentiation of Natural Resin and derived products (pillar III).The “Training and Professionalization of the Resin Worker” was one of the measures presented for Pillar I, which has as its main objective to develop an Academy capable oftraining resin extraction professionals.For Pillar II, one of the measures presented was the “Transition to renewables and efficient use of water and energy”, which aims to prepare a study and Roadmap on best practices in the sustainable use of these resources, with a view to minimizing environmental impacts.At this meeting, the status of the “Creation of a “seal” and the technical dissemination on the entire value chain”, inserted in pillar III, which arose from the need to affirm Natural Resin as a product of renewable origin, which can replace petroleum derivatives and become one of the successful examples of the Bioeconomy in Portugal. The first phase of brand creation began in the last half of 2023, and at the meeting, some of the next steps under this initiative were presented. To promote natural resin to consumers and business decision-makers, communication and marketing actions have been carried out with some already evident results, namely the podcast and the biannual publication of the magazine Resinae®.Also at the meeting, the Interim Technical Monitoring Report of the RN21 | 2023, carried out by the Portuguese Environment Agency,which describes the progress achieved by the Integrated Project in terms of performance indicators – KPIs, and the work carried out in each of the measures defined in the project until the reporting date. From the analysis carried out, it was concluded that the Project is proceeding as planned, taking into account the developments described for the 22 measures contained in the Project.The meeting was attended by the members of the Advisory Board, composed of three external personalities of recognized merit and independent, who will meet annually to comment on the activities developed, propose corrective measures, and promote partnerships. The Advisory Board includes Aida Rodrigues Garcia, currently coordinator of several projects related to non-wood forest products; Álvaro Picardo, Technical Coordinator of the SMURF Horizont Europe project, on “Sustainable Management Models and Value Chains for Forests”; and Rui Miguel Rosmaninho, Director of the Department of Management of Public Forest Areas, of the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests, IP. Learn more here

Resin workers and representatives of companies linked to the sector attended today, in Vila Pouca de Aguiar, demonstrations of new extraction techniques for closed bags that will allow a greater appreciation of the resin and the profitability of the activity. “We are showing extraction techniques that are being developed and aim at modernization and greater efficiency compared to traditional methods,” the president of the Association of Resin Distillers and Explorers (Resipinus), Marco Ribeiro, told the Lusa agency. This is one of the 37 entities that are part of the consortium that is developing the RN21 – Natural Resin 21 project, financed by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), and which, among other objectives, wants to improve the efficiency of resin collection. The consortium is led by the ForestWise Collaborative Lab. It is within the scope of this project that resin extraction techniques are being developed, whose demonstration took place today, in a pine forest in Tresminas, Vila Pouca de Aguiar, district of Vila Real. Marco Ribeiro explained that traditional methods are “very demanding in terms of labor” and use a púcaro or bag in an open system, which allows the entry of impurities, water, and the loss of volatile components of the characteristics of the resin that are highly valued in the market. In the new system, the resin is extracted into a púcaro (plastic container) or closed bag. The extraction is done through a nozzle that is placed in the pine, in a hole made with a drill with a drill. “They allow us to have fewer impurities, have greater appreciation of the raw material and then generate greater profitability for the resin maker”, he stressed. Among the positive aspects, Marco Ribeiro pointed out that it can help attract new people to the sector, enable more income for pine forest owners, and provide more raw material for the industry. “We have three perspectives here: to improve the work of the resin worker, to improve the culture of maritime pine for the owners, and to improve the relationship with the industry”, he stressed. Resin exploration represents a turnover of around 10 million euros per year in Portugal, with about 500 resin workers resin between 20 thousand and 25 thousand hectares. According to official data, there are about 600 thousand hectares of pine forest in the country. “We are talking about a very large growth margin,” said Marco Ribeiro. For the use of these new “closed methods”, it will be necessary to make a change to the legislation, which is currently under review. The current used, open plastic bag costs between three and four cents, while the bag with a mouthpiece, closed, can cost between 15 and 20 cents. For Rui Salgado, who has a resin company based in Chaves, this is an investment that will pay off, because from this extraction a higher quality product will come out, adding that, in the current bags, there is a percentage of 12% that goes to waste because it collects water or nozzles from the pine trees. “It can help a lot. The work that is being done now should have been done 20 years ago. This activity has to be modernized and mechanized or we will not have people to work,” he stressed. The entrepreneur has 11 people working and extracts 300 tons of resin per year. Teresa Magalhães is a forest and resin worker and believes that the new method could be beneficial for workers. “It avoids desencarrasque [consists of removing the superficial layer of bark], which represents a lot of physical effort and is also good for the quality of production, because it is a resin that will come out clean, and I think it has another value in the market,” he said. This month, two more workshops will be held in Oleiros and Nazaré. The RN21 project runs until 2025, represents an investment of 26 million euros, and a grant of 17.5 million. Learn more here

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 resinhectares 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 stimulatingpastes, 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. Learn more here

Entrepreneurs, producers, researchers, and institutional representatives met today in Pampilhosa da Serra, as part of the Resinae Ignite event, promoted by the RN21 Integrated Project, with the aim of exploring all links in the value chain of the natural resin sector. In the opening session, the Mayor of Pampilhosa da Serra, Jorge Custódio, stressed the relevance of the initiative, highlighting that “it is very important to put the focus back on this activity and work in collaboration with local agents and producers, who continue to play an active role in the development of the region”. “The success of the resin and the forestry sector is certainly the success of these inland territories”, he added. The event, which was a catalyst for new ideas and initiatives in the sector, was marked by the official launch of the “Resinae” brand, a symbol of quality, traceability, and environmental commitment, which aims to highlight the natural Pinus Pinaster resin in the global market as a product of excellence. The program included interventions and debates on sustainable practices, innovation in production, transformation, and expansion into new markets, promoting a constructive dialogue around viable and sustainable solutions. Pedro Teixeira (Centro Pinus Association), Marco Ribeiro (Association of Resipinus distillers and explorers), Ricardo Gomes (Nares company), Pedro Gil (Gum Rosin), João Koehler (Colquímica company), Jávier Calvo (Cesefor company), were the protagonists of the thematic sessions. The work continued with the debate on “The value chain of natural resin”, “Economic sustainability of resination”, and “Challenges and opportunities”, with the participation of Rogério Rodrigues and Joana Vieira, both from CoLAB ForesWISE, and Miguel Freitas, from the University of Algarve. The presentation of the “Resinae” brand was the responsibility of Jani Pires and Juliana Salvation, from CoLAB ForestWISE. It should be recalled that the RN21 Integrated Project – Innovation in the Natural Resin Sector to Strengthen the National Bioeconomy -, led by CoLAB ForestWISE, is a consortium that brings together the entire natural resin value chain in Portugal. The project is committed to the modernization and revitalization of the sector, valuing resin as an ecological product with vast potential for application in the global market. The CoLAB ForestWISE – Collaborative Laboratory for the Integrated Management of Forest and Fire, is an organization that brings together entities linked to research, innovation, and knowledge and technology transfer, which aims to contribute to a more sustainable forest management, the valorization of forest products, and the reduction of the consequences of large fires.

Resin workers and representatives of companies linked to the sector attended today, in Vila Pouca de Aguiar, demonstrations of new extraction techniques for closed bags that will allow a greater appreciation of the resin and the profitability of the activity. “We are showing extraction techniques that are being developed and aim at modernization and greater efficiency compared to traditional methods,” the president of the Association of Resin Distillers and Explorers (Resipinus), Marco Ribeiro, told the Lusa agency. This is one of the 37 entities that are part of the consortium that is developing the RN21 – Natural Resin 21 project, financed by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), and which, among other objectives, wants to improve the efficiency of resin collection. The consortium is led by the ForestWise Collaborative Lab. It is within the scope of this project that resin extraction techniques are being developed, whose demonstration took place today, in a pine forest in Tresminas, Vila Pouca de Aguiar, district of Vila Real. Marco Ribeiro explained that traditional methods are “very demanding in terms of labor” and use a púcaro or bag in an open system, which allows the entry of impurities, water, and the loss of volatile components of the characteristics of the resin that are highly valued in the market. In the new system, the resin is extracted into a púcaro (plastic container) or closed bag. The extraction is done through a nozzle that is placed in the pine, in a hole made with a drill with a drill. “They allow us to have fewer impurities, have greater appreciation of the raw material and then generate greater profitability for the resin maker”, he stressed. Among the positive aspects, Marco Ribeiro pointed out that it can help attract new people to the sector, enable more income for pine forest owners, and provide more raw material for the industry. “We have three perspectives here: to improve the work of the resin worker, to improve the culture of maritime pine for the owners, and to improve the relationship with the industry”, he stressed. Resin exploration represents a turnover of around 10 million euros per year in Portugal, with about 500 resin workers resin between 20 thousand and 25 thousand hectares. According to official data, there are about 600 thousand hectares of pine forest in the country. “We are talking about a very large growth margin,” said Marco Ribeiro. For the use of these new “closed methods”, it will be necessary to make a change to the legislation, which is currently under review. The current used, open plastic bag costs between three and four cents, while the bag with a mouthpiece, closed, can cost between 15 and 20 cents. For Rui Salgado, who has a resin company based in Chaves, this is an investment that will pay off, because from this extraction a higher quality product will come out, adding that, in the current bags, there is a percentage of 12% that goes to waste because it collects water or nozzles from the pine trees. “It can help a lot. The work that is being done now should have been done 20 years ago. This activity has to be modernized and mechanized or we will not have people to work,” he stressed. The entrepreneur has 11 people working and extracts 300 tons of resin per year. Teresa Magalhães is a forest and resin worker and believes that the new method could be beneficial for workers. “It avoids desencarrasque [consists of removing the superficial layer of bark], which represents a lot of physical effort and is also good for the quality of production, because it is a resin that will come out clean, and I think it has another value in the market,” he said. This month, two more workshops will be held in Oleiros and Nazaré. The RN21 project runs until 2025, represents an investment of 26 million euros, and a grant of 17.5 million. Learn more here

INEGI intends to create solutions to improve the energy efficiency of production processes and decarbonize the use of energy in the resin sector. The resin sector challenged INEGI to create solutions to improve the energy efficiency of its production processes and decarbonize energy use, contributing to the reduction of the sector’s environmental footprint. The team of experts got to work and outlined 6 measures with an impact on reducing energy consumption and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. Waste heat recovery and the integration of renewable energy sources are two of them. Both, explains Francisco Lázaro, responsible for the project at INEGI, “promote significant reductions in energy use and, consequently, in associated GHG emissions“. Reductions of between 25% and 30% in energy use and between 11% and 70% in polluting gas emissions are estimated. The electrification of processes, namely through the integration of heat pumps for industrial use, is another solution towards energy efficiency and decarbonization of the sector. It has the potential to reduce annual energy use by 28% and GHG emissions by 20%. However, warns Francisco Lázaro, “its effectiveness in decarbonization depends on the use of renewable energy sources for electricity production”. In addition to these measures, the application of thermal insulation, the valorization of by-products and the retrofitting of equipment and processes. “It is possible to conclude that thermal insulation is easy to implement and has a quick return, but its impact is usually reduced. The energy recovery of by-products, on the other hand, reduces the use of Natural Gas, without major investments“, says Francisco Lázaro. Measures strengthen this industry This work is being developed within the scope of the RN21 Integrated Project, which brings together a consortium of 37 entities – including INEGI – to revitalize one of the traditional sectors of the national economy and innovate throughout the value chain. From the forest to the final consumer, including the moment of resination. With an investment of more than 26 million euros and financial support from the European Union of more than 17.6 million euros, the project has a duration of about three years and is based on three pillars: the promotion of the production of national natural resin, the strengthening of the sustainability of the manufacturing industry and the commitment to the positive differentiation of natural resin and derived products. INEGI is responsible for coordinating the working group that is developing solutions for the efficient use of water and energy, as well as leading the sector’s transition to renewable energy. The RN21 Integrated Project is co-financed by the European Union, under the Bioeconomy program of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP). It is one of the 23 innovation agendas that has the contribution of INEGI. Learn more here

In October last year, United Resins, a resin production unit installed in the Industrial Zone of Figueira da Foz, hosted the national presentation of the RN21 project, a ceremony presided over by the then Minister of the Environment, Duarte Cordeiro. It was not by chance that the presentation of RN21 took place there. United Resins is a national leader in the sector and is strongly committed to innovation and development, being an international reference. Among its business areas, which are diverse, the group also innovates in the replacement of plastic with natural and biodegradable materials. And in the media, being one of the reference shareholders of the Global Media group.António Mendes Ferreira is the leader of the business group. The businessman was the main guest of this week of Dez&10.Starting with resins, United Resins, in terms of knowledge, development, technology, and innovation, “has a say in it, to the point that the Chinese are unable to be competitive,” said António Mendes Ferreira. Learn more here

The Guidance and Supervision Council (COF) of the RN21 Integrated Project, the highest body of the consortium structure, met on February 28, at Espaço Inovação Mealhada, to address several issues within the scope of the management of the Integrated Project. CoLAB ForestWISE®, the leader of this aggregating consortium, hosted the meeting in which the first ordinary session of the Advisory Board also took place. Opening the session was the Councilor of the Municipal Executive of Mealhada, Ricardo Santos, the Project Director, Rogério Rodrigues, and the CTO of CoLAB ForestWISE®, Carlos Fonseca, who reinforced the “importance of showing the good that is being done in this consortium that is essential to share with the partners who accompany us”. This was followed by the presentation of more than 20 measures, which are part of the three pillars on which the RN21 Integrated Project is based, namely: the promotion of the production of national natural resin (pillar I); strengthening the sustainability of manufacturing (pillar II); and the positive differentiation of Natural Resin and derived products (pillar III). The “Training and Professionalization of the Resin Worker” was one of the measures presented for Pillar I, which has as its main objective to develop an Academy capable of training resin extraction professionals. For Pillar II, one of the measures presented was the “Transition to renewables and efficient use of water and energy”, which aims to prepare a study and Roadmap on best practices in the sustainable use of these resources, with a view to minimizing environmental impacts. At this meeting, the status of the “Creation of a “seal” and the technical dissemination on the entire value chain”, inserted in pillar III, which arose from the need to affirm Natural Resin as a product of renewable origin, which can replace petroleum derivatives and become one of the successful examples of the Bioeconomy in Portugal. The first phase of brand creation began in the last half of 2023 and at the meeting some of the next steps under this initiative were presented. To promote natural resin to consumers and business decision-makers, communication and marketing actions have been carried out with some already evident results, namely the podcast and the biannual publication of the magazine Resinae®. Also at the meeting, the Interim Technical Monitoring Report of the RN21 | 2023, carried out by the Portuguese Environment Agency, which describes the progress achieved by the Integrated Project in terms of performance indicators – KPIs, and the work carried out in each of the measures defined in the project up to the reporting date. From the analysis carried out, it was concluded that the Project is proceeding as planned, taking into account the developments described for the 22 measures contained in the Project. The meeting was attended by the members of the Advisory Board, composed of three external personalities of recognized merit and independent, which will meet annually to comment on the activities developed, propose corrective measures and promote partnerships. The Advisory Board includes Aida Rodrigues Garcia, currently coordinator of several projects related to non-wood forest products; Álvaro Picardo, Technical Coordinator of the SMURF Horizont Europe project, on “Sustainable Management Models and Value Chains for Forests”; and Rui Miguel Rosmaninho, Director of the Department of Management of Public Forest Areas, of the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests, IP.