Knowledge sharing and collaboration – project coordinated by Luke to promote sustainable biomass use and business opportunities
Research on forest and agricultural biomass has grown over the last decade. Although a plenty of research data has been produced, much of this valuable information does not reach farmers or forest owners, for example. The BRANCHES project, coordinated by the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), aims to build a bridge between research and practitioners.
Biomass supply chains are sensitive to changes, such as fluctuations in energy prices, which can lead to increased costs. While research has produced methods and developed technologies to improve the efficiency of the chains, the problem is that this knowledge does not always reach the practitioners.
The international BRANCHES project, funded by the EU Horizon 2020 programme, aims to promote the uptake of cost-effective technologies, and create business opportunities by building networks between research and practitioners. The project brought together researched knowledge on biomass supply chains, innovative technologies and best practices, among other things, for the networks.
"In general, practitioners do not follow peer-reviewed English-language literature or research findings, which means that research knowledge is not translated into practice very quickly. The aim of the project is to work with practitioners to find methods that can help them, for example, to reduce costs and make their work more efficient," says Johanna Routa, Research Manager and Senior Scientist coordinating the project.
The project involves 12 research institutes and organisations from five different countries. In Finland, the partners are the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), the Centre for Technology Research (VTT) and the Federation of Finnish Agricultural Producers (MTK). In each participating country, a national network has been set up to share information and keep in touch with the industry, for example through newsletters.
Getting to know the environment: events, workshops and showcase days at the heart of the project
At the heart of the project are events, workshops and demonstration days, where practitioners get to know new methods and equipment. According to Routa, practical examples can inspire operators to consider integrating similar processes into their own operations.
In Spain, for example, representatives of associations and public administrations were able to visit a wet-coal plant that produces biochar from biomass sources such as municipal waste and forest and agricultural by-products. The cost-effective biochar is water repellent and easy to transport. It is also a sustainable alternative to fossil coal.
In Finland, a demonstration of the Risupeto harvester for energy wood was held deep in the forests of North Savo. "Despite the challenging location, more than 200 participants, including forest owners, forestry entrepreneurs and representatives of forestry associations, were attracted to the event," says Johanna Routa.
Routa stresses the importance of listening to practitioners and understanding what kind of information they need. This will ensure that the research results are relevant and useful to the industry.
The power of networks: mobilising actors and strengthening biomass supply chains
According to Routa, BRANCHES can have a lasting and far-reaching impact on the development of biomass supply chains and rural areas: the introduction of new practices and technologies can lead to improvements in energy efficiency, lower energy costs and better use of biomass, for example.
One of the major achievements of the project is the mobilisation of an active group of actors and the improvement of communication. The project, which will end at the end of the year 2023 has reached thousands of actors in the sector through various events over a period of about three years. Through social media 100 000 interested parties have followed the project's messages and more than 60 abstracts on the research results have already been produced.
"There has been a huge amount of positive feedback from networks that we have provided information at an appropriate pace. Working together with industry has created an environment that promotes the competitiveness and sustainability of biomass chains," concludes Routa. She hopes that the networks created during the project will continue to provide information even after the project has ended.
