Periodic Reporting for period 2 - BeonNAT (Innovative value chains from tree & shrub species grown in marginal lands as a source of biomass for bio-based industries)
Berichtszeitraum: 2022-01-01 bis 2023-06-30
The main problems addressed are the following:
1) INCREASING DEMAND FOR BIO-BASED PRODUCTS: The existing economic system is increasingly moving away from the use of fossil-based raw materials towards an economy based on natural material cycles.
2) SOIL DEGRADATION AND LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY IN MARGINAL LANDS: Marginal lands are defined in Europe as the land uses at the margin of economic viability and affected by soil degradation processes.
3) GLOBAL WARMING EFFECTS: Climatic changes will bring many and complex effects for forests over different EU bioclimatic regions.
4) RURAL ABANDONMENT IN EUROPE: Since 1960, the rural population in Europe has declined by 20%, and the population of predominantly rural regions is projected to fall another 7.9 million by 2050. Rural depopulation and aging contribute to the trend of farmland abandonment.
BeonNAT project proposes to use marginal lands which do not compete neither with agriculture use for food production nor with fibre/wood industries, to obtain biomass for the production of new bio-based products following a biorefinery cascading concept.
In BeonNAT, forest tree and shrub species will be cultivated in marginal lands in Spain, Germany and Romania (countries with large areas of marginal lands) to obtain wood-based feedstock for several industrial applications. Thanks to BeonNAT implementation, it is expected to enhance biodiversity and soil quality in marginal lands, offering more environmental services. The creation of new bio-based value chains for different markets (cosmetic industry, packaging sector, pet industry, etc.) will generate rural employment in places where marginal lands are in the limit of the economic viability, leading to significant positive effects to the rural economy.
1) INCREASING DEMAND FOR BIO-BASED PRODUCTS: The existing economic system is increasingly moving away from the use of fossil-based raw materials towards an economy based on natural material cycles.
2) SOIL DEGRADATION AND LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY IN MARGINAL LANDS: Marginal lands are defined in Europe as the land uses at the margin of economic viability and affected by soil degradation processes.
3) GLOBAL WARMING EFFECTS: Climatic changes will bring many and complex effects for forests over different EU bioclimatic regions.
4) RURAL ABANDONMENT IN EUROPE: Since 1960, the rural population in Europe has declined by 20%, and the population of predominantly rural regions is projected to fall another 7.9 million by 2050. Rural depopulation and aging contribute to the trend of farmland abandonment.
BeonNAT project proposes to use marginal lands which do not compete neither with agriculture use for food production nor with fibre/wood industries, to obtain biomass for the production of new bio-based products following a biorefinery cascading concept.
In BeonNAT, forest tree and shrub species will be cultivated in marginal lands in Spain, Germany and Romania (countries with large areas of marginal lands) to obtain wood-based feedstock for several industrial applications. Thanks to BeonNAT implementation, it is expected to enhance biodiversity and soil quality in marginal lands, offering more environmental services. The creation of new bio-based value chains for different markets (cosmetic industry, packaging sector, pet industry, etc.) will generate rural employment in places where marginal lands are in the limit of the economic viability, leading to significant positive effects to the rural economy.
During the first Reporting Period (M1-M18), in WP1 (UNDERUTILIZED TREE & SHRUB SPECIES SCREENING), a selection of 13 underutilised tree and shrub species according to biochemical and ecological aptitudes to grow in marginal lands of Spain, Germany and Romania was performed taking into account their ecological aptitudes and their chemical profiles were characterized. The legal framework of agricultural and forest marginal lands was evaluated as prerequisite to the establishment of BeonNAT plantations.
During the first and second Reporting Periods 1RP (M1-M36), in WP2 (BIOMASS CULTIVATION, HARVESTING, LOGISTICS AND SUPPLY PLAN) one protocol for the collection of vegetal material and its multiplication at nurseries was developed by USV and other one for the establishment and follow up of intercropping tests was developed by BTU. A supply plan of biomasses for industrial partners of WP3 to WP7 was created by CIEMAT. The complete assessment of the Soil Quality Ratio for the evaluation of marginality of the six BeonNAT plots was done by BTU. The intercropping plantations were successfully established and crops continued its development with the need of replanting and/or survival irrigation in some cases. The harvest and storage trials delivered the first results, the biomasses were characterized for energy purposes and the supply of biomass for WP3-7 was done in sufficient amounts.
In WP3 (ESSENTIAL OILS AND VEGETAL EXTRACTS), El Jarpil together with CIEMAT designed a portable distillation plant that was already constructed and its first essential oil extraction tests were carried out at CEDER-CIEMAT installations. IPB-CIMO and IDOASIS continued with the identification and quantification of functional compounds as well as with the bioactivity assays of the essential oils and vegetal extract obtained from BeonNAT species. IDS is performing the regulatory analysis for new products/compounds.
In WP4 (PLA BIOPLASTICS FOR PACKAGING), the production of sugar-rich media from the twelve selected species (CIEMAT) and the production of Lactic Acid (LA) (ATB) from these media at laboratory scale have been completed. Yields and other relevant parameters were evaluated for each step. The pre-treating and LA production at a higher scale for the production of PLA by AIMPLAS from six BeonNAT wild species has already started.
In WP5 (BIOCHAR AND ACTIVE CARBONS PRODUCTION), 12 biomass species selected by the Committee were transformed into Biochar at Record’s pilot scale plant and then were delivered to Envirohemp to convert them in activated carbon by the chemical activation route. Both, biochars and activated carbons, were characterised according to common criteria to evaluate their performances.
In WP6 (DEVELOPMENT OF NEW ABSORBENTS FOR PET INDUSTRY), TOLSA performed the evaluation as pet absorbent of the pellets produced by CEDER-CIEMAT. Biomass pellets produced from BeonNAT species had different biochar contents (0%, 1%, 5 and 10%) and encapsulated essential oils from rockrose, rosemary and juniper at 0.1% concentration.
In WP7 (WOOD PULP AND PARTICLEBOARD PREPARATION), kraft pulping of hardwood and softwood BeonNAT species was performed and most common parameters to evaluate their pulping aptitude were obtained. CESEFOR continued the evaluation of particleboards produced from BeonNAT biomasses obtaining their physical and mechanical properties results.
In WP8 (MARKET, BIODIVERSITY AND VALUE CHAIN SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENTS), the Selection Committee first chose the best 4 species per country to be cultivated in WP2 and then the best 6 species for the scale up. The agricultural and non-agricultural marginal lands of Spain, Germany and Romania were identified by CESEFOR and CIEMAT as well as the suitability of BeonNAT species to grow in these lands. The reference LCAs as benchmark for comparisons with BeonNAT products were produced by CONTACTICA. The market analysis reports are being developed by NNFCC. Monitoring of the soil and the biodiversity are delivering their first results. The forest “Valverde” from CEDER-CIEMAT obtained the PEFC certificate.
In WP9, COMMUNICATION, DISSEMINATION AND EXPLOITATION KPIs targets are being accomplished and exploitable results are being identified for its protection.
During the first and second Reporting Periods 1RP (M1-M36), in WP2 (BIOMASS CULTIVATION, HARVESTING, LOGISTICS AND SUPPLY PLAN) one protocol for the collection of vegetal material and its multiplication at nurseries was developed by USV and other one for the establishment and follow up of intercropping tests was developed by BTU. A supply plan of biomasses for industrial partners of WP3 to WP7 was created by CIEMAT. The complete assessment of the Soil Quality Ratio for the evaluation of marginality of the six BeonNAT plots was done by BTU. The intercropping plantations were successfully established and crops continued its development with the need of replanting and/or survival irrigation in some cases. The harvest and storage trials delivered the first results, the biomasses were characterized for energy purposes and the supply of biomass for WP3-7 was done in sufficient amounts.
In WP3 (ESSENTIAL OILS AND VEGETAL EXTRACTS), El Jarpil together with CIEMAT designed a portable distillation plant that was already constructed and its first essential oil extraction tests were carried out at CEDER-CIEMAT installations. IPB-CIMO and IDOASIS continued with the identification and quantification of functional compounds as well as with the bioactivity assays of the essential oils and vegetal extract obtained from BeonNAT species. IDS is performing the regulatory analysis for new products/compounds.
In WP4 (PLA BIOPLASTICS FOR PACKAGING), the production of sugar-rich media from the twelve selected species (CIEMAT) and the production of Lactic Acid (LA) (ATB) from these media at laboratory scale have been completed. Yields and other relevant parameters were evaluated for each step. The pre-treating and LA production at a higher scale for the production of PLA by AIMPLAS from six BeonNAT wild species has already started.
In WP5 (BIOCHAR AND ACTIVE CARBONS PRODUCTION), 12 biomass species selected by the Committee were transformed into Biochar at Record’s pilot scale plant and then were delivered to Envirohemp to convert them in activated carbon by the chemical activation route. Both, biochars and activated carbons, were characterised according to common criteria to evaluate their performances.
In WP6 (DEVELOPMENT OF NEW ABSORBENTS FOR PET INDUSTRY), TOLSA performed the evaluation as pet absorbent of the pellets produced by CEDER-CIEMAT. Biomass pellets produced from BeonNAT species had different biochar contents (0%, 1%, 5 and 10%) and encapsulated essential oils from rockrose, rosemary and juniper at 0.1% concentration.
In WP7 (WOOD PULP AND PARTICLEBOARD PREPARATION), kraft pulping of hardwood and softwood BeonNAT species was performed and most common parameters to evaluate their pulping aptitude were obtained. CESEFOR continued the evaluation of particleboards produced from BeonNAT biomasses obtaining their physical and mechanical properties results.
In WP8 (MARKET, BIODIVERSITY AND VALUE CHAIN SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENTS), the Selection Committee first chose the best 4 species per country to be cultivated in WP2 and then the best 6 species for the scale up. The agricultural and non-agricultural marginal lands of Spain, Germany and Romania were identified by CESEFOR and CIEMAT as well as the suitability of BeonNAT species to grow in these lands. The reference LCAs as benchmark for comparisons with BeonNAT products were produced by CONTACTICA. The market analysis reports are being developed by NNFCC. Monitoring of the soil and the biodiversity are delivering their first results. The forest “Valverde” from CEDER-CIEMAT obtained the PEFC certificate.
In WP9, COMMUNICATION, DISSEMINATION AND EXPLOITATION KPIs targets are being accomplished and exploitable results are being identified for its protection.
BeonNAT cropping system (short rotation coppice and intercropping) offers new habitats for animal and plants favoring biodiversity and is expected to contribute to climate change mitigation, new jobs creation and to the strengthening of the European bio-economy. Soil quality and biodiversity evolution will be monitoring along the project. The aim beyond of the state of the art is the advance in knowledge and application of these techniques in marginal land, continuing where H2020 and LIFE projects as MAGIC, STROMA and ENERBIOSCRUB have ended.
BeonNAT selected species are underutilised species in traditional wood sector. Furthermore, most BeonNAT products are innovative, so beyond of state of art, new feedstock capable of growing in marginal land will be explored.
The main socioeconomic impact of BeonNAT will be the creation of new job opportunities in the bio-based sector, particularly in the forest-based sector as primary producers (agricultural or forestry) will be needed to cultivate tree and shrub species in Spain, Germany and Romania and their work, experience and knowledge will benefit BeonNAT project countries and all other marginal areas within the EU-27.
In BeonNAT consortium, a big number of RTO, SME and LE will develop, scale-up and launch to the market several new innovative products highly demanded on markets. New business niches will generate new job positions, mainly for highly qualified personnel.
BeonNAT selected species are underutilised species in traditional wood sector. Furthermore, most BeonNAT products are innovative, so beyond of state of art, new feedstock capable of growing in marginal land will be explored.
The main socioeconomic impact of BeonNAT will be the creation of new job opportunities in the bio-based sector, particularly in the forest-based sector as primary producers (agricultural or forestry) will be needed to cultivate tree and shrub species in Spain, Germany and Romania and their work, experience and knowledge will benefit BeonNAT project countries and all other marginal areas within the EU-27.
In BeonNAT consortium, a big number of RTO, SME and LE will develop, scale-up and launch to the market several new innovative products highly demanded on markets. New business niches will generate new job positions, mainly for highly qualified personnel.