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The expected outcomes of the FORESTSPECS project include:

  • innovative new ways to utilize wood residues and peat to produce speciality chemicals and polymers, complementing or replacing some current products and materials based on oil
  • value-added new options for total usage of wood bark and peat
  • novel transformations for production of
    • betulin derivatives to be used as pharmaceuticals, additives in cosmetics, and biological plant protection agents
    • poly– and oligoesters from suberin to be used as binders for coatings, adhesives and composites and as plasticizers, surfactants and lubricants
    • humic acid derivatives to be used as chelating agents in water purification and in mining and as wood adhesives
  • new bioactive fractions, materials and compounds for high value-added applications e.g. in medicine, cosmetics, and plant protection
  • improved profitability of the forest-based sector, including companies, forest owners, and local economies
  • improved export possibilities for European based SMEs and other companies utilizing the improved processes, materials and speciality chemicals
  • decreased risks of environmental contamination via applications based on natural substances and improved technical/biotechnical processes (e.g. in plant protection, remediation)
  • improved sustainability of agriculture, horticulture and forestry via replacement of products and processes using non-renewable resources by rapidly renewable materials (e.g. plastic or peat based potting materials used in horticulture)
  • creating the knowledge, techniques and materials for the reversal of processes contributing to desertification and climate change (improved biomass production in currently unproductive areas, ‘greening of the desert’, etc)

Expected impacts listed in the work programme
The work programme lists as expected impacts from the studies funded by this call:
“Contribution to enlarging the economic potential of the forest-related industry and better understanding of the potential of humic substances”

Contribution of FORESTSPECS towards the expected impacts
The FORESTSPECS project addresses the issues defined in the 7th Framework Programme, and those included in the European Forest-Based Sector Technology Platform’s “2030 vision” by providing research based biological and technical understanding and solutions needed for upgrading wood related residues and humic substances to value-added chemicals and materials. Only through such knowledge-based approach it is possible to develop innovative applications to the potentially huge variety of bioactive substances available in the wood-related wastes and humic substances, which currently are largely converted into energy by burning. These substances, however, represent rich sources of aromatic and other complex structures whose upgrading to value-added speciality chemicals and materials will provide an opportunity to the sector to create new types of forest-based value chains. Innovative application opportunities for such products include for example medical, pharmaceutical, agricultural, and environmental remediation uses.
The project proposal is entirely consistent with the overall objectives and expected outcomes of the EC’s 7th Framework Programme on “Knowledge-Based Bio-Economy, KBBE” to exploit new and emerging research opportunities for addressing environmental and economical challenges, and the growing demand for sustainable use of renewable resources. The project would fully contribute to the objectives of area 2.3.3. Environmental biotechnologies, Use of waste and by-products, which emphasizes the potential of biotechnology to prevent, treat and remove pollution, and calls for maximising the economic value of waste and by-products through new, innovative processes. FORESTSPECS project makes use of biotechnology and other suitable techniques to convert side products (waste) of the forest-based industries into value added products and materials that can be used among other applications to treat and remove pollution (bioremediation of contaminated soils).
The European Forest-Based Sector Technology Platform in its “2030 vision” clearly identifies its role in the society and the need for adjustments. The forest-based sector comprises a competitive, knowledge-based industry that fosters the extended use of renewable forest resources and plays a key role in a sustainable society. It strives to ensure its societal contribution in the context of a bio-based, consumer-driven and globally competitive European economy, while meeting the multifunctional demands on forest resources and their sustainable management. The industry, represented by the technology platform, realizes that the forest industry has a challenging period of adjustment ahead of it, and that the industry has no other alternative than to keep optimising its activity and to search for solutions from new products in order to improve profitability.
The forest-based sector needs to be innovative, which requires strong links between science and the sector. Some of the ideas put forth by the platform as partial solutions to the problems by 2030 include:

  • Deepening the sector's scientific basis, including taking advantage of emerging sciences
  • Development of innovative products
  • Focus on specialities and new business
  • Innovative and sustainable use of forest resources
  • Enhancing availability and use of forest biomass for products and energy
  • Improved cooperation between EU countries and Russia
  • Advance technology for the Western European and Russian forest industry
  • Participate in supply chains from cost competitive regions

When we compare the expected impacts as envisaged by the work programme of the call, as well as the defined needs and visions for solutions as expressed by the Forest-Based Sector Technology Platform, with the work plan and expected results of the FORESTSPECS project, it becomes clear that this project expects to make a significant scientific and practical contribution towards reaching the stated goals (and occasionally, beyond them). The expected results from the project include:

  • innovative new ways to utilize wood residues and peat to produce speciality chemicals and polymers, complementing or replacing some current products and materials based on oil
  • value-added new options for total usage of wood bark and peat
  • novel transformations for production of
    • derivatives of wood residue-based compounds (e.g. triterpenoids) to be used as pharmaceuticals, additives in cosmetics, and biological plant protection agents
    • poly– and oligoesters from suberin to be used as binders for coatings, adhesives and composites and as plasticizers, surfactants and lubricants
    • humic acid derivatives to be used as chelating agents in water purification and in mining and as wood adhesives
  • new bioactive fractions, materials and compounds for high value-added applications e.g. in medicine, cosmetics, and plant protection
  • improved profitability of the forest-based sector, including companies, forest owners, and local economies
  • improved export possibilities for European based SMEs and other companies utilizing the improved processes, materials and speciality chemicals
  • decreased risks of environmental contamination via applications based on natural substances and improved technical/biotechnical processes (e.g. in plant protection, remediation)
  • improved sustainability of agriculture, horticulture and forestry via replacement of products and processes using non-renewable resources by rapidly renewable materials (e.g. plastic or peat based potting materials used in horticulture)
  • creating the knowledge, techniques and materials for the reversal of processes contributing to desertification and climate change (improved biomass production in currently unproductive areas, ‘greening of the desert’, etc.)

 

We can identify that the expected impacts from the FORESTSPECS project affect different levels, and many different segments of the society, either directly or indirectly. These impacts can be seen at the micro-level, meso-level, and at the macro-level.
Micro-level
Impacts at the micro-level affect directly at least the following:

  • the forest-based industries (as those who can add value to their existing materials/waste)
  • companies benefiting as users of the new value-added raw materials (medical, pharma, etc.)
  • commerce

Meso-level
Impacts at the higher level include tangible benefits to the:

  • local communities via improved economic activity
  • consumers buying and using safer, improved, higher-quality products

                (e.g. medicines, cosmetics, food)

  • improved agricultural and forest productivity in areas with poor soils

Macro-level
Macro-level benefits from the project can be expected in the long run:

  • EU general competitiveness improved; export opportunities

                      (e.g. to regions already suffering from desertification)

  • increased ecological/environmental sustainability: replacement of non-renewable raw materials by rapidly renewable resources
  • long-term benefits to humanity via development of technology (based on rapidly renewable raw materials), which is essential for limiting desertification and combating climate change