Clipping

The sustainable bioeconomy project is developed in the North and the Center of the country, with the objective of making the raw material a strong product for export. By Diana Carvalho The project led by CoLAB ForestWise, based on the objectives of the Recovery and Resilience Plan, aims to put natural resin back on the map of the Portuguese economy, after “in the 70s, Portugal was the third world producer of this raw material, says Carlos Fonseca, chief technology officer of the project. Increasing resin productivity and quality, product diversification, and creating business opportunities are other steps to be achieved. Learn more here

The Municipality of Cantanhede was the stage chosen for the second workshop of the RN21 Integrated Project, organized by CoLAB ForestWISE, where professionals from the Natural Resin sector were brought together to address how this raw material is revolutionizing various industries, from food preservation to fashion, including the automotive and footwear industries. Carlos Fonseca, Chief Technology Officer of CoLAB ForestWISE, took advantage of the opening session to launch a challenge to the participants: “The sector must reorganize itself so that, at the end of this Consortium, there is an organization that can ensure what the present and increasingly future initiatives that are related to resin in the Iberian Peninsula. We have about a year and a half to make this change.” Representing CIM Coimbra Region was Engineer José Lopes, who gave an account of some initiatives they are developing: “We are fortunate to be involved with the ForestWISE CoLAB and other entities in several projects associated with it, we are also in RN21 and in the transForm Agenda, where we are doing the process of valuing forest biomass, and RESIST”. António Mendes Ferreira, president of United Resins, gave a framework on this partner company of the RN21 consortium and a presentation on the 2nd Transformation process; derivatives of Natural Resin (Rosin, derivatives, current application products); the application of the resin in new sectors such as digitalization and Resfinas/Resetfibas; innovative and differentiating solutions in the footwear, textile, automotive and food industries. He also reinforced that the main objectives are “to achieve a sustainable economy, the enhancement and revitalization of sectors”. Participants had the opportunity to attend interactive thematic stations, in charge of some of the partners of this Integrated Project, such as the Food Industry station – “Natural Preservation”, represented by TECMEAT; the Automotive Industry – “Innovation on wheels”, represented by SIMOLDES; the Textile Industry – “Weaving the future”, represented by TINTEX; and the Footwear Industry – “Sustainable Steps”, represented by CTCP. In these stations, participants discovered how rosin and its derivatives can revolutionize sustainability in the packaging industry; how rosin biopolymers and additives are revolutionizing the production of automotive components, making them lighter and more sustainable, and also how rosin-based adhesive systems and sole materials are revolutionizing the footwear industry. The workshop ended with the presentation of Anabela Carvalho and Lorena Coelho, from CENTI – Centre for Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, who, in addition to the work carried out in the four areas that set the tone for this workshop, are also present in areas such as Health and Well-Being, Electronics, providing greater knowledge, differentiation and experience in the development of this raw material. The two CENTI experts said that several solutions are being developed, integrating rosin and derivatives for diversified sectors, based on a circular economy perspective. The valorization of this local product allows us to strengthen the potential of this raw material and expand its applicability. They also reinforced that the resin and its derivatives allow not only to increase the bio-based component of the products, but also to improve some of the final technical properties. This cycle of workshops aims to foster an open debate on the various perspectives of the Natural Resin value chain, from production to the final application of derived products. Led by the ForestWISE CoLAB, RN21 brings together for the first time, the entire value chain of the Natural Resin sector in Portugal, 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, valuing Natural Resin as a “bio” product and enhancing the great possibilities of its application in the market. Source: ForestWISE Collab Learn more here

On October 17, in the Auditorium of the Padre José Rafael Rodrigues Municipal Museum in Vila Pouca de Aguiar, the workshop “Regional networks for the valorization of woody forest biomass for energy production: the case of Tresminas” took place. This initiative was carried out within the scope of the “Aldealix” project, part of the Interreg VI Cooperation Program Spain – Portugal (POCTEP) 2021-2027, and was jointly organized by the Intermunicipal Community of Alto Tâmega e Barroso (CIMAT) and the Municipality of Vila Pouca de Aguiar and aimed to present the preliminary results of the “Study of local biomass resources in the surroundings of the pilot project of the village of Tresminas” – prepared by Colab Forestwise – to the various stakeholders of the supply chain. This meeting, of a technical nature, also made it possible, and according to CIMAT, to present a case of effective implementation in a nursing home with the use of forest biomass for energy production at a local level, and a respective debate with the participants. The workshop was attended by the host Ana Rita Dias, Mayor of Vila Pouca de Aguiar, in the opening session, who was accompanied by the First Executive Secretary of CIMAT, Professor Ramiro Gonçalves, who was in charge of framing and presenting the objectives of the Aldealix project. Learn more here.

The latest applications and developments of Natural Resin will be the main theme of the second workshop of the RN21 Integrated Project. In addition to the presentation of success stories, interactive thematic stations are planned to discover how rosin and its derivatives can revolutionize sustainability in the packaging industry or how rosin biopolymers and additives are revolutionizing the production of automotive components, making them lighter and more sustainable. The workshop promoted by the RN21 project offers a unique opportunity to learn more about innovation, sustainability, and the new opportunities that this raw material can bring. One of the points addressed will also be the adhesive systems and rosin-based sole materials that are revolutionizing the footwear industry. The initiative takes place on October 21, at 2:30 pm, at the Social and Parish Center of S. Pedro, in Cantanhede. Registration can be made through the following link. Learn more here.

The second workshop of the RN21 Integrated Project will take place on October 21, at the Social and Parish Center of S. Pedro, in Cantanhede, starting at 2:30 pm. The most recent applications and developments of natural resin, as well as innovation, sustainability, and the new opportunities that this raw material is bringing to various industries, will be the main points addressed. Participation is free. This event, part of a set of innovative workshops, will have the theme “We create the future with Natural Resin”, and will explore how this raw material is revolutionizing various industries, from food preservation to fashion, including the automotive and footwear industry, says a press release from ForestWise – Collaborative Laboratory for Integrated Forest and Fire Management (CoLAB), which leads RN21. In addition to the presentation of success stories, there will be interactive thematic stations, which will explore how rosin and its derivatives can revolutionize sustainability in the packaging industry, how rosin biopolymers and additives are revolutionizing the production of automotive components, making them lighter and more sustainable, and also how rosin-based adhesive systems and sole materials are revolutionizing the footwear industry. “The workshop offers a unique opportunity to learn more about innovation, sustainability, and the new opportunities that this raw material can bring”, adds the same note, adding that “this cycle of workshops aims to foster an open debate on the various perspectives of the natural resin value chain, from production to the final application of derived products”. Participation in this workshop is free, but registration is mandatory, here. RN21 Led by CoLAB ForestWISE, RN21 brings together for the first time, the entire value chain of the natural resin sector in Portugal, 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, valuing natural resin as a “bio” product and enhancing the great possibilities of its application in the market. With an investment of more than 26 million euros and a grant of 17 and a half million euros, the project integrates 37 entities, combining public and private investments, creating favorable conditions for collaboration between companies and R&D&I partners, and leveraging the ecological and digital transition. Find out more about RN21 here. Program 2:30 p.m. – Reception and welcome 2:45 p.m. – Opening session 3:00 p.m. – Transformation Processes: from Resin to Final Product António Mendes Ferreira (United Resins) 3:15 p.m. – Introduction of the stations 3:30 p.m. – Theme Stations Natural Preservation (Food Industry – TECMEAT)Innovation on wheels (Automotive Industry – SIMOLDES)Weaving the future (Textile Industry – TINTEX)Sustainable steps (Footwear Industry – CTCP) 4:30 pm – Coffee Break 4:45 pm – Sustainable Innovation with Functional Materials – Anabela Carvalho (CeNTI) 5:15 p.m. – Closing session Agriculture and Sea Learn more here

Representatives of companies linked to the sector attended yesterday, in Vila Pouca de Aguiar, demonstrations of new extraction techniques for closed bags that will allow a greater appreciation of the resin and 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, the demonstration of which took place 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

The RN21 Integrated Project will hold the “Resinae Ignite” event on the 27th, in Pampilhosa da Serra, where the official launch of the “Resinae” brand will be made, a symbol of quality, traceability, and environmental commitment that was created to enhance the Natural Resin of Pinus Pine. This event will also explore the main challenges and opportunities in the Natural Resin value chain, with a particular focus on innovation. Experts, entrepreneurs, producers, and institutional representatives will share their perspectives on the challenges and opportunities that mark the sector, promoting a constructive dialogue that fosters the development of innovative and sustainable solutions. Learn more here

Entrepreneurs, producers, researchers and institutional representatives met yesterday in Pampilhosa da Serra, as part of the Resinae Ignite event, promoted by the RN21 Integrated Project, to explore all links in the value chain of the natural resin sector.In the opening session, the mayor of Pampilhosa da Serra, Jorge Custódio, highlighted that “it is very important to refocus 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 sustainabilityof 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. Learn more here

The Natural Resin 21 (RN21) – ForestWISE consortium, which the Agrarian School of the Polytechnic of Coimbra (ESAC-1PC) is part of, wants to restore natural resin to its importance in the national economy. Useful in the automotive, textile, footwear, and food industries, especially concerning the manufacture of biodegradable packaging, lighter and more sustainable components for cars, more durable footwear, and better color fixation in fabric dyes, resin is shown to be a raw material with high economic potential, including for export. After, in the 70s, having been the third most exported raw material in the country, the natural resin is once again in the spotlight through the RN2 Integrated Project, which aims to modernize and make the product more sustainable in Portugal, covering the entire value chain, from the forest to the final consumer, by involving a total of 37 different entities located, most of them are in the North and Center of the country, where there is more maritime pine. In addition to higher education institutions, such as ESAC, the RN21 consortium, led by CoLAB ForestWISE, includes: entities from the resin processing industry, which brings together names such as TECMEAT, Simoldes Plásticos, S.A., Tintex, and CTCP; resin producing companies, such as Raízes Independentes; AI and 2nd processing companies, such as Pinopine; Intermunicipal Communities; and forestry associations.This Integrated Project also aims to promote the sustainable development of the regions where Natural Resin is produced, involving local communities and strengthening the regional economy. With a focus on increasing the productivity and quality of Natural Resin, as well as the diversification of derived products, the project aims to create new business opportunities for national companies and producers, while promoting the certification of Natural Resin and ensuring its origin and quality, which will contribute to competitiveness in the global market value chain. Contributing to the bioeconomy, economic resilience, carbon neutrality, territorial cohesion, and strengthening the investment in science and technology in Portugal are also ambitions of this project, and to achieve the objectives mentioned, the RN21 consortium works on 22 key measures, divided into three pillars of action and different activities. 2025 is the last year of the project, which is being developed under the Recovery and Resilience Plan, and of which you can find out everything at https://rn2lforestwise.pt/. Learn more here

Natural resin value chain analysed by specialists in Pampilhosa da Serra. 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, to explore 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. Learn more here