H2020 uP_running Project: Launch of a sustainable supply of woody biomass from agricultural pruning and plantation removal
- Type Project
- Status Filled
- Execution 2016 -2019
- Assigned Budget 1.992.920,00 €
- Scope Europeo
- Main source of financing H2020
- Project website uP_running
1. FRAMEWORK: uP_running partners have been working from the beginning of the project, meeting with multiple stakeholders in regional and national workshops (more than 30 in seven countries), as well as through bilateral meetings. The results are:
- 4 regional action plans in the so-called demo countries (ES, IT, GR and UA)
- 7 national strategic plans (ES, IT, GR, UA, PT, FR, HR) and an aggregated version for Europe
- Based on the strategic plans, an EU roadmap and policy recommendations, reviewed under the consensus of a group of relevant national and European stakeholders
- The insights gained and the partnerships forged by uP_running partners have paved the way for an ambitious advocacy effort that includes more than 70 meetings with lobbying organizations and policymakers, seven national policy workshops, and two at EU level.
A significant impact has been achieved, among the main achievements:
• National ministries (agri/rural development) from 7 countries reached and well aligned with the uP_running vision
• National and EU agricultural, rural development, and bioenergy organizations have contributed to project events and vision; a more realistic and standardized view of APPR's characteristics.
• DG AGRI has expressed interest in uP_running; uP_running is used as an example of a good initiative
• Co-organisation of a policy workshop on APPR with 2 relevant MEPs (Members of the European Parliament) on agriculture (attended by multiple organisations and influential actors and 5 MEPs).
2. ENTREPRENEURSHIP: Actions aimed at supporting stakeholders on their entrepreneurial journey, the so-called "starters" or "primary drivers-PrMov," respectively, with limited knowledge and vision, or a more mature perception of the potential new value chain. Two partners per country (one agricultural organization and one technology center) carried out the work to complement their respective expertise and visions.
- 20 PrMovs supported (finding and engaging the necessary actors, selecting technologies, testing the value chain at pilot scale, assessing the economics and CO2 balances, and proposing the exploitable business model)
- 4 PrMov subject to final support to reach market status
- More than 60 companies involved in the value chain demonstration tests
- 46 initiators supported with consulting
The effect is reflected in the following figures:
• 5 new value chains activated (mobilizing >30,000 t of APPR biomass/year)
• 10 new PPPs close to investment (awaiting funding or final decision)
• 18 new regional, national and European promotional projects/initiatives activated
• Significant participation of SMEs in the promotion of new APPR value chains: 55-60% of PrMov and initiators, and 75% of consultants.
3. KEYS TO REPLICATION: uP_running's legacy beyond the project, well-defined and edited materials, available in English + 7 EU languages (PT, ES, FR, IT, HR, GR, UA), which will be available online until the end of 2024:
- D2.3 Policy Recommendations and Brochure
- D3.3 Lessons learned in organizing new APPR value chains
- D3.4 Lessons learned through mentoring (advice for consultants)
- D4.1 Training materials for consultants
- D4.2 Consulting Manual
- D6.3 and D6.4 Report on 10 emblematic cases of APPR
• 4 videos on APPR value chain demonstrations
• 4 videos on 4 new value chains supported by APPR
• Monograph 1: Perspectives on how to organize a new APPR value chain
• Monograph 2: Resolving the APPR dilemma: use as energy raw material or as a soil input
• Monograph 3: Keys to the success of existing APPR value chains
• APPR Observatory: Google Maps tool providing information (currently, June 2019) with 410 data points on APPR productivity (t/ha), 67 APPR harvest/treatment records (t/h or ha/h) and 42 existing value chains (10 of them subject to in-depth reports - "landmark cases")
4. TRANSFER and MULTIPLICATION: multiple actions throughout the project carried out with the purpose of reformulating the vision and transferring knowledge, which leads to:
- Organization of: 23 regional workshops, 10 national workshops, 1 EU workshop
- 14 national events and 1 ad hoc EU project event
- At least 156 project submissions at national and European level
- Publication of 369 short news items and 39 technical or scientific articles.
- At least 25 national and European trade fairs were attended to develop synergies and create networks.
Knowledge transfer has included actions to extend the vision and knowledge to other actors and organizations within and outside the project's geographic area, resulting in:
- >170 attendees at consultant training sessions
- 27 consultants supported in carrying out their first consultancies
- Participation and activation of the interest of 10 EU national organizations from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria, Slovenia, Serbia, Poland, Cyprus, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Georgia
In terms of numbers, the achievements are:
• Nearly 7,000 target stakeholders met directly during networking and project events.
• A potential audience of 400,000 people reached through dissemination tools, YouTube channels and the uP_running project website, the observatory and national websites
In Europe, at least 10 million hectares of land are cultivated with vineyards, olive groves, and fruit orchards (approximately 6% of the cultivated area). Agronomic practices such as agricultural pruning and plantation removal (APPR) are estimated to produce more than 20 million tons (dry matter) of biomass per year. APPR residues are primarily burned in open fires, ground into the topsoil, or, in a few cases, used to produce firewood, wood chips, pig fuel, or pellets.
There are multiple isolated cases of PAPR value chains in Europe, demonstrating that under current local frameworks, the energy use of PAPR wood can be viable. However, multiple non-technological barriers limit its use. The uP_running project aims to unleash the strong European potential of PAPR biomass and promote its sustainable use as an energy feedstock by following a strategy based on four lines of action: FRAMEWORK, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, KEYS FOR REPLICATION, and TRANSFER AND MULTIPLICATION.
The uP_running project seeks to lay the foundation for the development of bioenergy utilization of wood from agricultural pruning and clearing (APW) from vineyards, olive groves, and fruit orchards. Its goal is to reduce the current stagnation among value chain actors in the utilization of PAP woody biomass.
To this end, it incorporates a set of direct actions aimed at transforming perceptions of the sector, providing evidence of real success and replicable models, and promoting the growth of the utilization of PAP biomass waste. An intensive communications campaign will target a diverse target audience with customized messages and materials to raise awareness.
Efforts will be made to combat the political barriers and legal framework that currently restrict the use of PAP wood through direct advocacy and lobbying activities at the national and European levels. Once the sector has been raised and the barriers to its use have been removed, a multiplier effect will be generated through dissemination and multiplication efforts.
The first part of uP_running's multiplicative strategy is to create permanent capacity in Europe by equipping national and regional agricultural associations, extension services, and/or private consultants with the necessary capacity to support the decision-making of farmers, cooperatives, and agribusinesses that hold PARP residues. A call for business initiatives will leverage the newly created capacities in seven EU countries to promote the decision-making of pioneering entrepreneurs.
Establishing and managing new PARP biomass value chains is key to self-replication and to further contributing to the development of the bioeconomy in Europe. Actions will be initiated in four pilot countries (together representing 50% of the EU's potential), replicated in three relevant EU countries, and extended through precursor actions to seven other EU countries.
uP_running has paved the way for increasing the energy use of biomass from agricultural pruning and plantation removal (APP). It has driven the establishment of new value chains, the launch of new initiatives, the creation of permanent capacity in several countries, and the consolidation of uP_running's legacy.
Furthermore, following the launch of uP_running, PAP for bioenergy has been recognized by multiple relevant national and EU stakeholders for its compliance with relevant European policies (bioeconomy, circular economy, climate change and renewable energy, rural development, and farm sustainability). This, coupled with a more favorable framework for PAP (particularly under the new CAP), is expected to enable a significant expansion of PAP use in the coming years.
A 50% penetration of the potential by 2030 (equivalent to 10 Mt of dry matter) can contribute to the EU's objectives in the above-mentioned policies, as follows:
- a reduction in net energy imports from the EU28 by 0.76%
- Avoid dumping waste in the open air and thus the release of pollutants (contributing to better air quality) and reduce around 10 million tons of CO2 (assuming that part is not burned)
- By replacing fossil fuels, APPR has demonstrated the ability to achieve reductions of over 90% (following the RED II methodology), thus contributing to a net reduction of around 17 MtCO2 eq. per year.
- New economic activity in rural areas, with an impact on employment of around 15,000 new equivalent jobs.
- FUNDACION CIRCE CENTRO DE INVESTIGACION DE RECURSOS Y CONSUMOS ENERGETICOS (CIRCE)
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