During a 4-day study tour (October 17-20, 2024) and within the framework of the 27th Session of the International Commission on Poplar and other Fast-Growing Species for the Maintenance of People and the Environment of the FAO, held in Bordeaux (France), the coordinator of the LIFE Wood for Future project had the opportunity to establish contact and learning with the sector worldwide. Forty people, including researchers, owners, industrialists and managers from the five continents, shared experiences and ideas, based on the French poplar sector, structured at state level by the National Poplar Commission (CNP), the National Commission of Forest Ownership (CNPF) and the national research institutions INRAE and FCBA.

On the first day, a visit was made to the Bordeaux center of the FCBA Institute of Wood Construction. During the visit, the elements of the poplar sector and its research in France, the latest studies on the quality of poplar wood, the structural classification of poplar wood and new structural uses using laminated products were presented. Afterwards, a visit was made to the laboratory, equipped with important machinery for mechanical testing of large-scale prototypes.

The second day was a visit to the agroforestry and silvopastoral systems of the Marais Poitevin, a Natural Park with numerous canals, where a demonstration was given of the management of these wetlands of European interest, reconciling timber production with environmental conservation and other agricultural production. In the afternoon, we visited the important poplar plywood factory Joubert located in Saint Jean d’Angely and visited the poplar clonal trial of the French institute INRAE in Auvignac on a private plot.

The third day started with a visit to Robinia clonal plantations for high durability timber in Bouglon, followed by a visit to short rotation eucalyptus plantations for biomass in Lamagistere owned by the Alliance forestry company. In the afternoon, an interesting visit to a large private production of poplar for quality timber in Verdun sur Garonne, allowed to learn about the important involvement of the French state in management and research at national level with private owners, giving support through the National Commission of Forest Ownership (CNPF). A network of clonal trials at national level, allows to know through data and in a rigorous way the adaptation of the clones that are being incorporated to the market to the soil and climatic circumstances, with a management plan adapted to the needs of the industry, and always with sustainable forest certification. The forest owners have 400 public employees at their service for management plans, forest certification, advice and applied research throughout the country, thus making the sector strong and sustainable over time.

The last day was spent visiting the clonal Pinus pinaster plantations of the Alliance company in Beychac and Caillau, for the production of quality timber through ambitious genetic improvement programs.