EUropean NAtural Rubber

Substitute from Guayule

(EUNARS-G/EIP initiative)
Status, objectives, opportunities
S.Palu, D.Pioch1 / J.P. Taverne 2 / H.Mooibroek, R.van Loo 3 / M. Dorget 4

1.CIRAD, 2.ETRMA, 3. WUR 4 CTTM Tire technology Expo 2015, Feb. 10, 2015, Cologne, Germany
 CONTENTS
1. AVANTAGES OF NATURAL RUBBER FOR TIRES
2. ALTERNATIVES SOURCES OF NR SUPPLY IN EUROPE
3. GUAYULE DEVELOPMENT IN EUROPE
4. EUNARS-G /EUROPEAN INNOVATION PARTNERSHIP (EIP)
PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP BIO-BASED INDUSTRIES
(BBI) OF HORIZON 2020
5. OBJECTIVES & TARGETS OF EUNARS-G PROJECT
6. CONCLUSION & PERSPECTIVES

Tire technology Expo 2015, Feb. 10, 2015, Cologne, Germany

NATURAL RUBBER ADVANTAGES
Good tensile and tear strenth
High adhesion to steel cord
Low heat build-up
Low hysteresis
High flexibility at low temperature Latex 8%
Shoes source Titan Tyre
Green strength
5%
Tack Non-tyres
Tyres
cars 3%
TIRES MARKET POTENTIAL 70% Beltshose
2%
Others
EUROPE
400 Millions citizens 12%
500 vehicles per 1000 citizens

ASIA
2900 Millions citizens
40 vehicles per citizens
Tire technology Expo 2015, Feb. 10, 2015, Cologne, Germany
 NEED OF NATURAL RUBBER ALTERNATIVES SOURCES IN EUROPE

0%

Latin America Asia Africa EU

NR production source (SNCP & IRSG) Natural Rubber Synthetic Rubber

World Natural Rubber (NR) consumption expected to be 16 million tonnes by 2025 .
More than 1 million tonnes of NR is used in the EU, but not one gram is produced inside the EU.
16MT

11MT

Asia EU N.America Others

NR consumption (SNCP & IRSG) Evolution NR demand (ETRMA & IRSG)
Tire technology Expo 2015, Feb. 10, 2015, Cologne, Germany
 SOURCES OF SUPPLY OF NATURAL RUBBER

HEVEA GUAYULE KZ DANDELION / TKS

Climate Tropical Semi arid Mediterranean Continental

Localisation S. E. Asia (93%) USA, Europe Kazahkstan,USA, Canada,Europe
S.Africa, Australia
Crop competition Oil Palm None Corn, cereals
Level production 11 Millions T / Y < 100 T /year <500 Kg/an
Harvest Manual, labour intensive Mechanical Mechanical
Yield 800-2000 kg/ha/Y Rubber 500-1000 kg/ha/Y 250-1500 kg/ha/Y
Resins 1000- 1200kg/ha/Y.
Cycle Tapping after 6-8 Y. Harvest after 1-3 Y. Harvest after 1 Y.
for 30-40 Y. Each year for 12 Y. Each year for 1 -2 Y.
Tire technology Expo 2015, Feb. 10, 2015, Cologne, Germany
AREA OF GUAYULE CULTIVATION

Tire technology Expo 2015, Feb. 10, 2015, Cologne, Germany

 GUAYULE CULTIVATION

Photos EU-PEARLS project France & Spain Tire technology Expo 2015, Feb. 10, 2015, Cologne, Germany
 OBJECTIVES OF EUNARS-G

Global rubber shortage of natural rubber (NR) may increase to over one million tonnes by 2020, as
demand from tyre makers in emerging markets will boost consumption
(5.7% in China, 4,7% in EU-28).
NR, a strategic raw material on which the European industry has a complete dependency.
Alternative sources of natural rubber to Hevea exist. Guayule (Parthenium argentatum) is one of
them and can grow in European Mediterranean countries.
Set the basis to develop commercial guayule cultivation (available land not competing with food
crops) in Europe for more renewable raw materials, availability and security of supply of NR to the
EU rubber industry (tyres & rubber goods), leading to more European jobs.
Implementation of 2.000 hectares of guayule fields in Mediterranean countries (Greece, France,
Spain, Italy, Turkey, Morocco..) from 2015-2019 for seeds production, economic feasibility study
and training to provide the basis for a larger scale extension plant with a private industrial

Tire technology Expo 2015, Feb. 10, 2015, Cologne, Germany

 EUNARS-G COMMITMENT

Continuation of research activities (EU-PEARLS, 2008-2012) on genomics and mutation breeding

to develop EU-guayule lines/varieties (yield >1 tonne/ha/year or more), on the agronomy of guayule
(planting, irrigation, harvest technology, rubber control in the field).
Improvement of existing EU "green" process for high quality rubber, and additives for rubber from
guayule by-products, build a 5 T./day plant to produce latex and dry rubber for large scale testing,
mainly in tyres, to assess quality according to processing options, and turn guayule as a workable
alternative or complement to Hevea rubber.
Development of a new commodity chain adapted to climatic conditions and expected climate change
in Europe
Provide enough biomass for the production of other bio-polymers using existing technologies

Tire technology Expo 2015, Feb. 10, 2015, Cologne, Germany

 EUNARS-G COMMITMENT

From 2019, partners will transfer their knowledge and technology to investors, farmers and
processors for larger scale cultivation in appropriate areas in Mediterranean Europe

Target of 25.000 ha by 2022 (2-3% of EU NR consumption), then allowing fast large scale expansion
up to 250.000 ha (20% of EU NR consumption) according to demand.

Re-localisation of the NR latex gloves industry and condoms from Asia to Europe with job creation
(jobs were lost with the delocalisation of the latex gloves industry in the 1970s). There will be also a
reduced dependency on nitrile rubber production from Asia used as a substitute to NR from Hevea by
the latex gloves industry.

The EU guayule commodity chain will participate to regain part of the 23.000 jobs lost by the
European rubber industry (Germany, France, Italy and Spain) between 2006 and 2011, as
employment in the rubber sector has decreased at a rate of -2% per year.

Tire technology Expo 2015, Feb. 10, 2015, Cologne, Germany

 EUNARS-G INITIATIVE
AND THE BIO BASED INDUSTRIES CONSORTIUM

Research and Innovation projects

-Basic and applied research
-Technology development
-Validation of small scale prototype
Innovation (Demonstration) Projects
-Demonstration pilot
-Large scale product validation
Innovation Flagship Projects
-Establishment of large scale innovative and first
of- its-kind production facility in Europe for
Guayle Natural Rubber (GNR)

Tire technology Expo 2015, Feb. 10, 2015, Cologne, Germany

GUAYULE VALORISATION OF BIOREFINERY CHEMICALS
GUAYULE
PLANTS
CO-PRODUCTS
BIOMASS/BAGASSE

Lipids Terpenes Resins

Wood Energy
Pannel Biofuels
Green chemistry
Fertilizers
Bio-polymers
BIO-CHAR LATEX Pharmaceutical
Adhesives
DRY RUBBER/TSR

Tire industry Non-allergenic latex

Industrial parts Medical, Gloves,
Condoms

Tire technology Expo 2015, Feb. 10, 2015, Cologne, Germany

ACCUMULATED BALANCES OF HEVEA AND VARIOUS TYPES OF
GUAYULE FARMING SYSTEMS
1 Ha guayule farm , 10 years
HEVEA
Dry biomass , 10 T./Ha/Y.
Rubber Content 8% (800 kg/Ha/Y)
Planting Density, 50.000 plants/Ha Guayule 8%
no fertilisation
Field Prod. Costs : 1.500-2.000 /Ha
Sale dry biomass : 3.000 /Ha/Y.

Guayule
Faster return

Guayule 8%
+ fertilisation
Guayule 5 %

(synthesis of data analyzed with Olympe software) Tire technology Expo 2015, Feb. 10, 2015, Cologne, Germany
 INNOVATION OUTCOMES OF EUNARS-G
European guayule varieties adapted to better survive cold weather periods and Mediterranean
climate conditions of the Northern and Southern Mediterranean countries (based on genomics and
mutation breeding activities)
New grades of biopolymers (polyisoprene, polybutadiene)
New agronomic technologies, including planting (tissue culture and /or direct seeding), harvesting
and storage
New processing extraction plant (latex, resins, dry rubber), Patents
New bio-molecules for the pharmaceutical and chemical industries (resins)
New tyre properties (improved wet grip and low rolling resistance)
Non allergenic latex ( Food contact gloves, Exam/Surgeon gloves without the use of IR (Isoprene
Rubber) and synthetic latex (NBR)

Tire technology Expo 2015, Feb. 10, 2015, Cologne, Germany

 CONCLUSIONS
GUAYULE A EU ALTERNATIVE SOURCE OF NR , BUT NOT A THREAT TO HEVEA
Hevea NR not available, alternative source will develop (5.000 T. of G-NR by 2025)
COMMERCIAL CONDITIONS FOR PRODUCTION OF GNR NEEDED
Economy recovery in EU ( growth of 1%/Y.)
Price of Hevea NR > 3.0 $US /kg (4.60$/kg in June 2011 but 1,70$/kg end of 2014)
Higher rubber yield for guayule lines (>1 T./Ha), new cultivars, genetic improvement
Costs and efficiency of processing, choice of solvent process or bio-compatible process
Quality of TSR guayule rubber (less non-rubber, improve Mooney, initial plasticity, plasticity
retention indice
Valorization of bio-products with biorefinery concept
INNOVATIVE NATURE OF EUNARS-G INITIATIVE; CREATION OF A WHOLE NEW
AGRO-INDUSTRIAL CHAIN IN EUROPE (growing, processing, seed production, training of
farmers, marketing, distribution, ...) with multiple stakeholders (farmers, agronomic institutes,
industrial users of NR, governments).
Tire technology Expo 2015, Feb. 10, 2015, Cologne, Germany
 PERSPECTIVES

EUNARS-G TO SET COLLABORATION WITH PUBLIC & PRIVATE INDUSTRIES

SET Big or mediu COLLABORATIONS WITH A BIO-BASED CONSORTIUM
Biorefinery company
Big or medium tires producers
Latex goods,
European Ministries
USA-EU COLLABORATION IN THE FIELD OF GUAYULE DEVELOPMENT

Tire technology Expo 2015, Feb. 10, 2015, Cologne, Germany