The School of Agricultural and Forestry Engineering at the University of León became a forum on Friday, June 13, 2025, to address the challenges, opportunities, and technological advancements surrounding the poplar value chain.

It did so by hosting the international event Populus 360: Innovation, Collaboration, and Challenges in the Poplar Sector, a gathering that brought together 170 professionals from the forestry and poplar cultivation sectors in the city of León, highlighting the academic institution’s commitment to applied research and knowledge transfer.

This was emphasized by Rector Nuria González during the opening ceremony, where she reiterated the university’s firm commitment to being “connected to its environment and to strategic sectors such as forestry and, in this case, to the poplar—a local resource with great potential to drive territorial development and project itself on a national and international scale.”

One example is the digitalization initiative the University of León is carrying out in various local, national, and international timber companies through the European consortium DIGIS3. According to the rector, this international dimension reinforces the ULE’s global outlook, promoting knowledge exchange and collaboration among institutions worldwide.

Populus 360 highlights the key role of the University of León as a hub for dialogue, education, and innovation in poplar cultivation, consolidating its international presence and commitment to rural development and forest sustainability, the rector added.

The event brought together top-level global experts, such as Joris Van Acker, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the International Poplar Commission, as well as speakers from Italy, France, Argentina, Canada, and Mexico, some of whom participated remotely.

“Today, we are joined here by poplar growers, industry, universities, training centers, associations, and public administrations—in other words, all the stakeholders that make up the poplar ecosystem—making Populus 360 a unique space for connection and collaboration,” said the event organizer, researcher Flor Taobada.

From the industrial sector, Ignacio García, spokesperson for the Spanish Association of Plywood Manufacturers, emphasized the importance of such initiatives to ensure generational renewal and the availability of raw materials: “Our industry is a world leader and directly depends on poplar. We need more plantations to remain competitive.”

Meanwhile, Miguel García, a technician from the León Forestry Association, underscored the importance of bringing scientific advances closer to poplar growers, allowing developments and research to reach those who manage and care for the trees.

The event also featured the participation of the director of the School of Agricultural and Forestry Engineering, Luis Herráez, and served as an occasion to pay tribute to businessman Pedro Garnica, a key figure in advancing the sector in the province. The program included presentations and a technical visit to poplar plantations.

Active participants included María A. Ripoll from IFAPA-Granada and Antolino Gallego from the University of Granada, who presented some of the results from the LIFE Wood for Future project, such as the silvicultural itinerary, nitrate absorption results, carbon measurements in poplar plantations, innovative structural products, and the spinoff Iberolam Timber & Technology.

The day concluded with a field visit to demonstration plots for mycorrhiza trials, the Cube nursery, and poplar harvesting areas. It is estimated that poplar plantations in Castilla y León cover an area of around 44,000 hectares.