CIRCE and ASAJA Huesca have held several workshops in the frame of the uP_running project to promote the renewable use of this type of residues.

More than 70 people participated in the workshops organized by ASAJA Huesca and CIRCE, to promote the energetic use of pruning and up-rooting of fruit trees, olive groves and vineyards. The workshops took place in three areas of Aragon with high potential in these types of biomass: Fraga, with large acreage of fruit trees, Alcañiz/Valjunquera with high cultivation of almond and olive trees and Barbastro, with large surface area of vineyards and olive trees.

All the type of the value chain actors were represented in each workshop, contributing with their different point of views on the sector barriers and opportunities. Accordingly, farmers and potential consumers have participated, as well as machinery manufacturers, agricultural and energy services companies, public bodies and local action groups. The discussions were very fruitful and each group of stakeholders had the opportunity to express their doubts, opinions, expectations and etc.

The main results of the workshops include the identification of various technical and non-technical barriers, as well as the approach of many driving ideas that could contribute to the set-up of new value chains based on agricultural prunings and plantation removals by these agents. Within all of them stood out the need to create a greater awareness about the benefits for all parties (producers, intermediaries and consumers), the need to promote and disseminate good practices and success stories and the role of the public sector as exemplary of this kind of practices. Also, during these workshops several entities have declared their interest in testing or starting a new value chain based on this type of biomass. All of this is affirming that, although the energetic use of these residues involves certain technical and non-technical difficulties, it is possible to use it as a sustainable, environmentally friendly and economically feasible energy.

In the coming months, CIRCE and ASAJAHU will elaborate an analysis of the sector and an action plan at regional level (Aragón) that will serve as a basis to convince institutions to create the right conditions for the promotion of this type of biomass.