In early 2020, the SustForest Plus project launched the “Resin Innovation Challenge”, an initiative that aims to bring together some of the best innovative ideas that contribute to improving the quality of work and profitability of the European resin market. The call to the innovative resin community in Spain, France and Portugal resulted in a total of dozen proposals from nine participants.
Despite the current circumstances due to COVID-19, it has been possible to have an international jury formed by a committee of twelve experts associated with the SustForest Plus project. Following the deliberations of the committee of experts, representing the entire European natural resin value chain, three winners have been awarded among the five pre-selected final candidates:
- The DRIADA project for forest data management
- The innovative rosin resin pot
- The PINELAB Little Big Factory, an initiative that aims to develop natural resin-based products and differentiated quality in the sector of cosmetics and food.
The other two finalists were the RESDRON Method, which applies remote sensing to estimate resin production, and MARTRAK, a new resin extraction machine.
The SustForest Plus project
The project Sust Forest Plus SOE2/P5/E0598 “Strategy and collaborative networks for multifunctionality, conservation and employment in the territory of southern Europe through resin extraction” will be developed from 2018 to 2021, and is co-funded by the Interreg Sudoe Programme through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) of the European Union. It aims to improve joint management methods of natural resin sources in the Sudoe territory as a strategic and preferential resource for industry, job creation and rational use of natural resources.
