ESjara, Aceite Esencial de jara para el desarrollo de la bioeconomía en el medio rural

Geographical location	Spain
Main geographical location (NUTS3)	Huelva
Other geographical locations (NUTS3)	Badajoz Guadalajara
Keywords	Agricultural production system
Main funding source	Rural development 2014-2020 for Operational Groups (in the sense of Art 56 of Reg.1305/2013)
Project type	Operational group
Starting date	2023
End date	2025
Project status	Ongoing

Title (in English):

ESjara, rockrose essential oil for the development of the bioeconomy in rural areas.

Objective of the project (native language):

ESjara tiene por finalidad desarrollar el potencial de obtención de derivados de la jara y en particular de aceites esenciales a través de la gestión activa de los matorrales de Cistus ladanifer y Cistus laurifolius, extendiendo la actividad a nuevas superficies actualmente abandonadas que puedan generar rendimiento a sus propietarios y buscando la valorización de productos y subproductos.

Objective of the project (in English):

ESjara aims to develop the potential for obtaining rockrose derivatives and in particular essential oils through the active management of Cistus ladanifer and Cistus laurifolius scrubland, extending the activity to new areas currently abandoned that can generate returns for their owners and seeking the valorisation of products and by-products.

Description of activities (native language):

Identificación del potencial de los jarales para la producción de aceites esenciales en áreas piloto. Desarrollo de soluciones innovadoras para puesta de nuevas superficies en producción a través de la gestión del recurso mediante aprovechamiento mecanizado, digitalización de procesos y herramientas de cosecha de precisión. Desarrollo de nuevas aplicaciones de los aceites esenciales y subproductos que proporcionen nuevos usos, mayor valor añadido y doten de circularidad a la cadena de valor. Generación de un modelo de negocio que permita el desarrollo de la actividad de cosecha de jarales en nuevas áreas del territorio nacional y el desarrollo de la industria de primera transformación asociada.

Description of activities (in English):

Identification of the potential rockrose lands for the production of essential oils in pilot areas. Development of innovative solutions to bring new areas into production through the management of the resource by means of mechanised exploitation, digitalisation of processes and precision harvesting tools. Development of new applications for essential oils and by-products that provide new uses, greater added value and circularity in the value chain. Generation of a business model that allows the development of the activity of harvesting rockrose lands in new areas of the national territory and the development of the associated primary processing industry.

Total budget:

599820.49

Project coordinator

Contact person:

Fundación Centro de Servicios y Promoción Forestal y de su Industria de Castilla y León. Fundación Cesefor

Address:

Pol. Industrial Las Casas C/c parecela 4, 42005, Soria, España

E-mail:

cesefor@cesefor.com

Phone:

34 975 21 24 53

Partner category:

Researcher

Practice summary

Practice abstract 1

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

Through the promotion and renovation of the rockrose value chain, ESjara becomes a powerful tool for the economic development of the bioeconomy in rural areas, generating an economic return to forest owners and at the same time contributing to the fight against climate change through sustainable forest management and fire prevention.
Main outputs: 1) Precision mapping of biomass/exudates/essential oils of tree stands integrating mechanisation capacity. 2) Tool for predicting optimal harvesting times based on remote sensing and environmental variables. 3) Reduction of harvesting costs and adaptation of the logistics and processing chain. 4) ESjaraQR, a digital tool for managing harvesting, logistics and traceability of raw materials. 4) Obtaining and characterisation of products from waste: 1 herbicide in the laboratory phase (from hydrolate and the essential oil itself) and 10 t of sorted woodchips, 10 t of pellets and 30 m2 of boards. 5) Groups of landowners and plans for the use of rockrose in the counties. 6) Active cooperation and project management as knowledge transfer tools.

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

A través del impulso y renovación de la cadena de valor de la jara, ESjara se convierte en una herramienta poderosa para el desarrollo económico de la bioeconomía en las zonas rurales, generando un rendimiento económico a los propietarios forestales y a la vez contribuyendo a la lucha frente al cambio climático a través de la gestión forestal sostenible y la prevención de incendios.
Principales resultados: 1) Cartografía de precisión de biomasa/exudados/aceites esenciales de jarales integrando la capacidad de mecanización. 2) Herramienta de predicción de los momentos óptimos de cosecha a partir de sensores remotos y variables ambientales. 3) Reducción de costes de cosecha y adaptación de la cadena logística y de transformación. 4) ESjaraQR, herramienta digital de gestión de cosecha, logística y trazabilidad de la materia prima. 4) Obtención y caracterización de productos a partir de los residuos: 1 herbicida en fase laboratorio (a partir de hidrolato y el propio aceite esencial) y 10 t de astilla clasificada, 10 t de pélet y 30 m2 de tableros. 5) Agrupaciones de propietarios y planes de aprovechamiento de la jara en las comarcas. 6) Cooperación activa y gestión del proyecto como herramientas de transferencia del conocimiento.

Further details

Description of the context of the project:

Rockroses spread over more than 3M ha in the Iberian Peninsula, but only 4.3% of the area occupied by prickly rockrose (Cistus ladanifer) is currently in production for the obtaining of a few products highly valuable in the perfume and cosmetic market. Commercial harvesting of prickly rockrose in Spain for industrial purposes is currently concentrated in the province of Huelva. Harvesting is done by hand with a sickle, in the summer months, baling by hand and transport by trailer. It is a very labour-intensive activity with a markedly arduous nature due to the considerable effort and work in very hot conditions. Processing is carried out in industrial facilities normally located in the same area as the harvest in the province of Huelva, although there are small exceptions with opportunistic uses in more remote areas. There is a great need for meeting the increasing demand of the prickly rockrose processing industry, but this can only be achieved through the incorporation of innovation in the whole value chain of rockrose processing.