We are delighted to announce the launch of OptiForValue, a 4-year project focused on optimising forest operations for sustainable forest management and high-value applications.

Wood use is increasing globally, with demand estimated to significantly surpass supply, increasing the pressure to increase forest areas and growth. The importance of forests in climate change mitigation and maintaining biodiversity is becoming more evident (as emphasised in the New EU Forest Strategy for 2023). Climate change is also causing direct challenges to forests and the bioeconomy, due to increasing biotic and abiotic threats affecting forest health and causing severe economic losses.

OptiForValue will work on these challenges, contributing to the Circular Bio-based Europe call for optimised forest-based value chains for high-value applications and improved forest management. This will be achieved by developing and upgrading non-invasive solutions for forest health monitoring and wood quality control, developing forest management methods to restore and enhance forest health and increase biodiversity, and developing operational capability for agile value management, gaining a deep understanding of the environmental and social impacts of the forestry solutions and their economic feasibility.

OptiForValue will also contribute to the New EU Forest Strategy for 2023, and EU Green Deal sustainability requirements – increasing forest health and resilience to climate change and competitive European sustainable wood supply. This forest value chain optimisation will be achieved via local multi-actor studies and data analysis across entire value chains, from forest inventory and operations to transport, storage and processing. Increased co-creation with and knowledge exchange between regional and local forestry actors will develop innovation capacity, encouraging deployment of solutions and maximising uptake of new opportunities.

The project will report on methods and guidelines for the effective management of forest stands affected by drought (across Europe), fire (Spain), insects (Sweden), and snow damage (Finland and Austria); possible new high-value engineered wood products from wood damaged by snow, insects, fire and drought; adjusting forest management to meet future alternative demand for high-value forest products; and for more resilient Swedish and Finnish value chains on supply security and cost competitiveness – and potential applicability to other regions of Europe.

The OptiForValue kick-off meeting will take place in Metla House, home to the Finnish Forest Research Institute in Joensuu. An inspiring venue for the launch, it is the largest wooden office building in Finland, built using Finnish wood together with glass in an innovative way

The 5 million Euro project is funded by Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) under Horizon Europe. 17 research and industry partners from across Europe will work closely together and with relevant stakeholders, to increase the value, competitiveness, and sustainability of existing European forest-based value chains, particularly in regions forecast to be, or are already, impacted by climate change.

Acknowledgement & disclaimer to be used on all OptiForValue communication material:
The project is supported by the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking and its members. Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.