Spruce and pine needles could become one of the cornerstones of Latvia’s bioeconomy. They can be used as raw materials for biopharmaceuticals, nutritional supplements, cosmetics, plant protection products, as well as household chemicals.

Currently, needles are mostly left in felling areas, with some being used as fuel (by chipping branches), yet they could be used as raw materials for the production of various bioproducts. According to rough estimates, approximately 360,000–400,000 tonnes of ecological needles remain in the forest every year; processing them could generate billions of euros in revenue and create new jobs. Dr. med. Juris Rubens, Chairman of the Board of SIA BF-ESSE, confirms that there are many opportunities in various fields. He points out that needles are a valuable resource, the processing of which would form the basis for “green” chemistry and open up possibilities for obtaining industrial products, such as needle extract and paste, which could be used in the manufacture of plant protection products, human and animal nutritional supplements, cosmetics, and medicines.

Experience already exists!

“The use of needles has a long history, as in folk medicine, pine and spruce needles were not only a source of vitamins but also a kind of anti-inflammatory and medicinal agent (for example, for heart, vascular and other diseases, as well as radiculitis and bronchitis),” explains J. Rubens. He notes that our ancestors used needle extracts in water treatments to reduce muscle pain, strengthen the nervous system, and so on. “At one time, needles were used to treat scurvy, which is caused by a lack of vitamin C,” says J. Rubens. He reminds us that ever since the 1950s, the Latvian State Forest Research Institute “Silava” (alongside research centres in Krasnoyarsk and Leningrad (now St. Petersburg)) studied both the properties of needle preparations and the development of corresponding products. “A needle extract production plant began operating as early as 1956, and after more than 20 years, needle processing workshops were located in Kalsnava, Strenči, Piltene... Currently, needle processing on a small scale only takes place in Piltene,” explains J. Rubens. He views the preservation of the needle extract plant positively, but its production capacity is small by today's standards compared to the opportunities that could be gained by processing even 1% of the quantity of needles that remain in felling areas for fertiliser. “Currently, several companies are operating in Latvia – SIA BF-ESSE, a/s Biolat and a few others, which are engaged in processing needle extracts and pastes into various products – mostly nutritional supplements for humans and animals,” points out J. Rubens. He reminds us that globally, there is increasing “pressure” to replace synthetic products with high-value, biologically active natural products obtained from renewable plant-based raw materials using environmentally friendly, zero-waste technologies.

At least a million is needed

“Of course, for Latvia to become an industrial supplier of needle extract, we need not only the relevant factories but also certification of the production process and the product,” explains J. Rubens. He admits that creating one modern needle extract plant (with a capacity of 200 tonnes per year) requires at least one million euros. Investments depend on the purchase of equipment and the solvents used in the refining process (CO2; nefras). “That is a lot of money!” responds J. Rubens when asked if SIA BF-ESSE would be ready to build such a plant. He points out that the company does not have such funds at its disposal, and banks will by no means be in a hurry to lend such a substantial sum to a small business for the creation of such a facility. “Since there is no relevant experience in industrial-scale needle extract production and no possibility to sign any letters of intent regarding the sale of the output to foreign buyers, in reality, without financial support from the state or EU structural funds, the creation of a modern factory of this kind is difficult to implement for small companies with local capital,” J. Rubens explains the “vicious circle”. He admits that one solution could be the path taken to create the large-scale glued laminated timber construction plant near Jelgava, which was developed as a scientific-research experimental plant. “There could be several possible locations for the plant in Latvia. We are currently evaluating the possibilities of setting up the plant in Strenči and Ventspils, but decisions have not yet been made because everything currently ‘comes down to money’ – that is – investments for its creation,” explains J. Rubens.

Work has started!

The fact that work is slowly moving in this direction is also shown by the example of SIA BF-ESSE, which is currently developing chlorophyll-carotene pastes based on needle extract, which would be a biological feed additive for animals. “We have received support from the EU structural fund programme administered by the Rural Support Service,” J. Rubens replies to a question about the source of funding. In his opinion, a similar solution could be applied to the development of substances from needles needed for cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. J. Rubens emphasises that the company he leads previously developed the preparation “Fitesten” (which won an Innovative Product award in 2011) based on pine needle extract for gastrointestinal health (it stimulates immunity and acts on the gut microbiota).

Work for researchers

J. Rubens draws attention to another important nuance: namely, that currently, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and plant protection products based on biological products are more expensive compared to chemical ones. “In a situation where many are fighting for a lower price that is more accessible to consumers, the price of biological origin (e.g., needle extract) is higher than that of chemical analogues, and it is quite difficult to sell them on the market at an economically justifiable price (to make a profit),” explains J. Rubens. He also admits that this situation can only be changed with two instruments: the EU banning the use of the word “bio” (product) if it contains less than 90% biologically sourced substances, or by introducing a conditional ecological tax on products obtained from chemical preparations. “In the plant protection product segment, there is another nuance – the effectiveness of biologically sourced preparations often lags behind that of chemical preparations. And why should a farmer buy more expensive, yet less effective products?” says J. Rubens. He suggests that there will be a lot of work in this area for researchers specifically. “Perhaps these factors are also the reason why manufacturers in many economically strong countries around the world are relatively ‘reserved’ regarding biologically sourced plant protection products and their production,” points out J. Rubens. In his opinion, there is work in this field for both scientists from various disciplines and entrepreneurs.

“Processing needles into industrial extract, and even more so into finished plant protection, cosmetic, human and animal nutritional supplements, as well as household chemical products in Latvia would create not only new jobs but also higher tax and export revenues, especially if about 400,000 tonnes of needles simply rot in the forest every year, while one tonne of needles can be used to create preparations where one gram could cost more than 100 euros.”