INDUTEC is participating in the European project ULEX_AE (Valorization of Ulex spp. for the joint production of animal feed meal and wood chips for the energy sector), funded under the 2023–2027 CAP Strategic Plan through the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food (MAPA) and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).

The project’s objective is to develop an innovative and sustainable solution for managing forest biomass along the Cantabrian coast through the comprehensive utilization of gorse (Ulex spp.), a species widely distributed in the region that can account for up to 80% of fire-resistant shrubland and contribute to an increased risk of wildfires.

Adopting a circular economy approach, ULEX_AE proposes transforming this resource into high-value-added products, thereby creating new economic and environmental opportunities. To this end, it will develop and validate an innovative system that will yield two main products: first, gorse meal for animal feed, obtained from its photosynthetic fraction—which is rich in protein and fiber—and second, wood chips for energy use, derived from its lignocellulosic fraction.

To achieve these objectives, advanced technological processes for on-site extraction, drying, and fraction separation will be designed and optimized, enabling the efficient use of the harvested material and ensuring the quality of the final products. These developments will also include digital tools for comprehensive process management and the analysis of its technical, economic, and environmental feasibility.

Furthermore, the valorization of gorse will help reduce the risk of wildfires, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and promote active forest management, aligning with the objectives of the European Green Deal, the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC), and circular bioeconomy strategies.

INDUTEC/IDP—A Bureau Veritas Company, is participating by contributing its expertise in engineering, digitalization, and sustainability analysis, helping to design the processes and assess their overall feasibility.

The project will last 24 months and brings together a multidisciplinary consortium of organizations from the agri-food and energy sectors committed to developing innovative solutions for more sustainable forest management.

ULEX_AE Valorization of ULEX for the joint production of animal feed meal and wood chips for the energy sector (REGAGE 25e00048487034).

Innovation project of general interest carried out by supra-regional operational groups of the European Innovation Partnership for Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability (AEI-Agri), within the framework of Spain’s CAP Strategic Plan (PEPAC). The General Directorate for Rural Development, Innovation, and Agri-Food Training (DGDRIFA) is the authority responsible for administering the aforementioned grants. Funding comes from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (80%) and the General State Administration (20%). Grant: €509,603.05