Context
The general approach of this project is to develop the research on bamboo through an exchange between experts coming from European countries and developing countries.Furthermore, the Agricultural Engineering Department takes care of the carrying out of tests on the utilization of bamboo as energy source.
Objectives
- To create a knowledge infrastructure that will foster bilateral co-operation between European and developing countries in order to valorise international scientific research on bamboo ;- to identify the socio-economic and environmental conditions and corresponding implementation strategies required for the commercial and industrial validation of research on bamboo as a timber substitute and renewable source of bioenergy ;
- to determine the long and short term research on bamboo needed to integrate bamboo technologies in the global market while ensuring sustainable development.
Description of tasks
To establish a network from industry, research institutes, and universities focusing on bamboo RTD in order to :- improve co-operation between research organisations and industry in Europe and developing countries ;
- facilitate access for research centres and industries in the EU to technical knowledge about bamboo in developing countries ;
- engage in advanced research on bamboo biotechnology ;
- simplify and improve exchange of knowledge about bamboo through meetings, internet presence, and on-line databases ;
- create a public forum in which the research community can generate and focus new research proposals for submission.
To develop a “bamboo RTD knowledge base” on the Internet to :
- collect and consolidate national socio-economic and environmental data relevant to bamboo ;
- maintain a state-of-the-art inventory of biotechnological developments on bamboo ;
- disseminate research finding on bamboo and related fields with relevance to industry and the environment ;
- increase public awareness on environmental, economic, and industrial aspects of bamboo.
To identify the demands and requirements from industry into research on bamboo in order to :
- compose a matrix of bamboo genotypes, silviculture techniques, industrial processes, and products ;
- detect unsolved problems, gaps in knowledge, and market feasibility ;
- generate ideas to solve technical problems within research on bamboo and develop plans for innovative and cost effective RTD projects ;
- initiate a program of technology transfer focusing on bamboo biotechnology and wood technology ;
- identify opportunities for European involvement in bamboo RTD projects in third countries.
Results obtained
Within this project, the DGR coordinates the working group “Bamboo as a source of bioenergy” and is a partner of the working group “Silviculture and Harvesting”.Combustion and conditioning tests of bamboo were carried out. It comes out, from a technical point of view, that the crushing and drying posts are key factors of the energy utilization of this biomass source.
Due to the huge morphological variability of bamboo species, it is illusory to define a single method to mechanise the harvesting.
For small size species, with a diameter under 8 – 10 cm, the use of machine developed in Scandinavian countries, for short rotation coppice, could be considered. These techniques imply the stand clear cutting (at least partial – harvesting by strips for instance). Moreover, design from agricultural machines; those harvesters need regular land surface or shape. These restrictions, also considering the labor cost, lead, in practice, to use these harvesting techniques mainly in European conditions.
For bigger species, with a diameter over 8 –10 cm, it could be considered to use forest harvesters, even in tropical conditions. Nevertheless, beside the difficulty to select to select mature culms, this solution needs a special design of the bamboo stands or plantations, which gives access to the material to harvest.
This kind of design (roads and paths) is also necessary for forest products. Moreover this grid of paths has also the advantage to facilitate the extraction and the conveying of the material to transport facilities.
The production of bamboo (Phyllostachys vivax) harvested to produce energy was measured in Belgian conditions. For this species, a production exceeding 10 tons of dry matters per hectare and per year seems to be reasonable. This is slightly higher than other ligneous crops, harvested in similar conditions.
Partners
University of the Philippines at Los Banos (Philippines), Fitotec-Technologias Ambientais (Portugal), International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (China), Universiteit Gent (Belgium), University of Wales-Bangor (UK), Imperial college of Science Technology and Medicine (UK), University Sains Malaysia (Malaysia), Bundesforschungsanstalt für Forst-und Holzwirtschaft (Germany), University of Hamburg (Germany), CAB International (UK), Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (Malaysia), Agricultural Research Centre-Walloonia (Gembloux - Belgium), Centre Technique du Bois et de l’Ameublement (France).CRAW off coordinator
TEMMERMAN Michaël (Attaché scientifique)Département Génie rural
Chaussée de Namur, 146
B-5030 Gembloux
Téléphone direct :62 71 57
Téléphone département :+ 32(81) 61 25 01
Fax département :+ 32(81) 61 58 47
E-mail :temmerman@cra.wallonie.be
Funding
- European Commission
- Oprins Plant N.V
