The Birch Program, launched with the active participation of Latvijas Finieris, gets 25 years old this year. Scientists, academics, landowners, managers, entrepreneurs and many other stakeholders working together for a common goal have shown in these years that birch can be grown faster, more productively and with better quality through proper selection and care.

“Now is the time to expand the boundaries of the Birch Program, with the aim of further researching and developing the potential of the mechanical properties of birch in plywood and possibly other products, as well as to develop understanding and potential opportunities in birch chemical processing. In addition, paying attention not only to wood but also to other components of birch.”

Māris Būmanis, a member of Latvijas Finieris Executive Board, is convinced.

In order to get a general idea of ​​future trends in material development and to form a common vision of opportunities to increase added value in the process of using birch, on September 15 at Anna’s Tree School “Latvijas Finieris” organized a scientific forum “Birch – its potential today and in the future”. It was attended by representatives from the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry, Riga Technical University, University of Latvia, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Latvian State Forest Research Institute “Silava”, Forest and Wood Products Research and Development Institute (MeKA), AS “Latvijas valsts meži” and “Latvijas Finieris ”.

“In our opinion, a very productive day was spent sharing knowledge, discussing and arguing together. What you have heard and seen will definitely help to make well-thought-out decisions about economically justified and sustainable development directions, where to go, thinking about the expanded use of side stream products of Latvijas Finieris production. Only about 1/3 of the wood used in production becomes birch plywood. I believe that sometime in the future, the other 2/3 will be a resource for a parallel flow of products. Why is it so? Because I know that Latvian scientists are already working in that direction.”

Ainārs Bobulis, Latvijas Finieris Head of Product Development and Research.