Mixed Plant of Forest and Agricultural Biomass in the Terra Alta
Promote sustainable development in the Terra Alta through the profitable use of woody biomass, fostering local employment, improving logistics and forest management, and integrating agricultural biomass. The project achieved a 40% reduction in costs and generated new circular models.
Location
Terra Alta Region (Catalonia)
Year of Start
2022
Promoter
Terra Alta Regional Council
Participants
Terra Alta Regional Council; agricultural and forestry agents of the region; SÍMBIOSY
Objective
The Terra Alta region faces structural challenges linked to rural depopulation, the management of agricultural and forestry waste, and the need to generate new economic opportunities linked to the territory. In this context, a strategic project is being promoted to promote the circular bioeconomy as a lever for local development, wealth retention, and job creation.
The project aims to analyze the viability of using forest and agricultural woody biomass, with a specific focus on improving logistics management, increasing hectares with ordered and productive forest management, and integrating different flows of by-products into a common system.
SÍMBIOSY supports the Regional Council from the planning phase, carrying out a diagnosis of the potential for using agricultural and forestry by-products, and defining valorization scenarios that allow waste to be converted into resources, promoting new circular business models adapted to the reality of the territory.
The project is supported by the Terra Alta Agricultural Board as a governance structure, and is aligned with the Bioeconomy Strategy of Catalonia, laying the foundations for a progressive implementation of biomass-based solutions.
Results obtained
- First mapping of agricultural and forestry by-products generated in the Terra Alta region.
- Identification of opportunities for the valorization of agricultural and forestry woody biomass.
- Initial definition of three value proposals:
- Generation of biomethane and energy.
- Production of organic fertilizers.
- Creation of a structured system for the management of forest biomass.
- Estimated reduction of 40% in waste management costs associated with the analyzed by-products.
- Generation of the bases for new circular business models linked to the territory.
To highlight
- Strategic project of circular bioeconomy in a rural environment.
- Integrated approach that combines forest and agricultural biomass.
- Direct contribution to the creation of local employment and the establishment of economic activity in the region.
- Improvement of forest management as a tool for fire prevention and valorization of the territory.
- Replicable model in other rural regions with biomass potential.
