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FP5 - Publications
The Forest Wood Chain - The Impact of EU research (1998 - 2004) |
A workshop on Forestry/Wood Chain Research was held in Brussels on 3-4 March 2004. The Following information is taken from the Introduction to this publication (EUR 21349, ISBN 92-894-8248-6), resulting from the meeting. The full text is available as a PDF. It should be noted that reference to funded projects relates to the situation when the information was published and most if not all will now have been completed.
Introduction
Thanks to European Union funding under the Fifth Framework Programme's Quality-of-Life Key Action 5 on Sustainable Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, pioneering research work spanning the entire forestry-wood chain from forest genetics, forest management, conservation, wood quality and timber processing, through to pulp and paper production, is now coming into its own.
No fewer than 63 forestry and wood chain research projects are being funded by the EU using 80 million euro under KA5.3 sub-themes on 'Multifunctional management of forests' and 'Strategies for the sustainable and multipurpose utilisation of forest resources; the forestry-wood chain'. More than 500 researchers are working to sharpen the forestry-wood chain's competitive edge, improving the sustainable production and rational use of Europe's oldest natural resource, as well as developing new technologies and multi-disciplinary, integrated approaches.
Their efforts could provide valuable input for the revised European Forestry Strategy and for current and future environmental, agricultural, rural development and industrial strategies. And important lessons are being learnt for future research, not just for integrating the new Member States into the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) projects, but also for planning recommendations and guidelines for FP7.
Some of these projects have already finished and many are in their final stages. Taking stock of achievements so far, the Biotechnology, Agriculture and Food Research Directorate of the European Commission's Directorate- General for Research recently singled out 13 projects along the forestry-wood chain and invited the successful project promoters from across the EU to present their findings at a Workshop on Forestry/Wood Chain Research held in Brussels on 3-4 March 2004.
The event certainly provided food for thought, and many ideas and recommendations could be taken up in current and future Framework Programmes. They also provided valuable input for the high-level conference organised by COFORD/InnovaWood (www.innovawood.com) during the Irish Presidency on 'Future Issues for Forest Industries in Europe' in Dublin from 28 April to 1 May.
One message that emerged loud and clear from the workshop is the need for a stronger European vision and effort in research and development through diverse means such as a solid platform for disseminating the results and putting them to work on the ground to help the industry meet the challenges of the 21st century. Beyond mere networking, many experts believe a technology platform linked to a broader strategy is what the industry really needs.
Contents
Introduction
The enlargement challenge
From supplier to end-user
The European approach
Networking research
Summing up
Research Projects
Forest Genetics, Physiology and Pathology
Wood properties and quality, treatment and re-engineering, wood waste
Forest treatment? Multifunctionality, forest policy and market demand
Annexes: Expert Report
IntroductionContacts
Contact
© Copyright 2006 Policy Statements
Updated
by CPL Press:
03/07/2007
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