Biomass as an economic engine: development project in Terra Alta
The Terra Alta Fact Sheet, a summary of the project on management models for woody biomass in the Terra Alta region (Catalonia), is now available for consultation.
Within the framework of the project
Use of agricultural by-products from Terra Alta, various strategies are analyzed to convert agricultural and forestry by-products into an economic activity and the generation of jobs.
Biomass is one of the
by-products with the greatest potential for generating
economic development in the region, which also poses a high risk of fire.
Therefore, it is necessary to define a management model to make it accessible to the board manufacturing, chip for boilers, and pyrolysis plant markets.
In Terra Alta, the biomass ecosystem includes agricultural and forestry holdings, wineries, oil mills, and farms, which are encountering increasing difficulties in a context of increasingly strict legislation.
Some of the main results of the project are listed below:
- Forest management alone is not a viable strategy; it is necessary to value the entire biomass value chain, from collection to transformation and distribution, including its access to markets, biochar production, and carbon credits, composing a vertical integration of the biomass sector.
- Developing new biomass markets and business models is essential to guarantee fair compensation to forest owners and encourage the necessary collaboration. This can be achieved by promoting the use of biomass as a local energy source, creating community boilers, and promoting local employment.
- Despite the existence of aid and subsidies, the need to provide technical assistance to farms is evident.
- Facilitation is key. The Consell Comarcal stands as a coordinating actor and engine, creating a logistics center for all forest management in the region.
The potential impact of this proposal is remarkable: in economic terms, it is expected to generate
significant benefits and boost the local economy; at the social level, the
creation of direct and indirect jobs in areas related to biomass and its management is one of the great benefits. In addition, the project will contribute to the
sustainable management of forests, forest planning, the reduction of fire risk, and the reduction of CO2 emissions, thus having positive impacts on the environment.
Learn about more projects like this
here.
