Overview
WebLand - Development of a Digital Tool for the Intelligent Management of the Acorn Value Chain: From Forest to Industry was an innovative pilot project dedicated to the digitalisation and structuring of the acorn value chain.
Coordinated by LandraTech in partnership with MORE CoLAB, the project developed an artificial intelligence-supported digital platform connecting forest producers, transport operators, processors and industrial customers, facilitating trade, logistics management and the sustainable use of this forest resource.
Context and Challenge
Quercus woodlands produce large quantities of acorns every year, although a significant proportion of this resource remains unused. Fragmented forest ownership, difficulties in identifying suppliers, the absence of structured logistics channels and weak connections between producers and industry restricted the creation of a stable value chain. This problem was particularly relevant in Trás-os-Montes, a region with significant production potential but facing challenges related to rural abandonment, an ageing population and the limited organisation of harvesting, transport and processing activities.
WebLand addressed these limitations by creating a digital tool capable of centralising information, connecting stakeholders and improving the relationship between acorn supply and market demand.
Objectives
The main objectives of WebLand were to:
- Create a structured network of producers and other value-chain stakeholders;
- Develop a digital database containing information on species, volumes, locations, processing capacity and logistics;
- Create a marketplace for trading acorns and acorn-derived products;
- Integrate artificial intelligence algorithms to optimise supply-and-demand matching;
- Calculate raw-material requirements and identify suitable producers, processors and routes;
- Validate the solution through a proof of concept under real operating conditions;
- Improve the digitalisation, transparency and efficiency of the supply chain;
- Prepare a business model supporting the platform’s continuity and expansion.
Technological Development and Innovation
The project began by identifying and characterising the main acorn value-chain stakeholders, including forest producers, cooperatives, transport operators, processors and industrial customers. The information collected was organised in a database and integrated into the digital platform.
The platform was developed as a responsive web application with access and functionalities adapted to four main user profiles:
- Producers, who can register stocks, species, prices and supply conditions;
- Processors, responsible for the different transformation stages;
- Customers, who can consult products and place orders through a marketplace environment;
- Administrators, with access to management, monitoring and analysis tools.
The platform includes user, product, stock and order management, transaction histories, monitoring dashboards and the geographical visualisation of stakeholders through interactive maps. Its artificial intelligence layer calculates the quantity of acorns required to produce a specific amount of a final product, verifies available stocks, calculates geographical distances and identifies the most suitable producers and processors. The platform can therefore generate different supply and logistics routes, allowing users to select the option best suited to their requirements.
Impact and Contribution
WebLand contributed to the modernisation and digitalisation of a traditional value chain, creating a more direct connection between forests and industry. Its main contributions included:
- Increasing the visibility and economic value of acorns;
- Strengthening the digital capabilities of producers and rural stakeholders;
- Improving the organisation and transparency of the supply chain;
- Potentially reducing logistics costs, distances and operating times;
- Promoting shorter routes with a lower environmental impact;
- Valorising Quercus woodlands and encouraging their sustainable management;
- Creating opportunities for new products, services and business models;
- Strengthening territorial cohesion and innovation capacity in low-density regions.
The project also generated three scientific papers presented or accepted at international IEEE conferences and participated in the 2023 and 2024 editions of the Fundão Agricultural Innovation Fair. WebLand’s continuity plan includes expanding the platform into other regions of Portugal and Spain, developing new artificial intelligence modules, integrating logistics services and implementing a commercial model based on transaction fees and premium services.
Project Information
Programme: Promove Programme 2021 - Innovative Pilot Projects
Project title: WebLand - Development of a Digital Tool for the Intelligent Management of the Acorn Value Chain: From Forest to Industry
Application Code: PV21-00021
Total Investment: €199,948.75
Funding from the “la Caixa” Foundation: €149,961.56
Funding Rate: 75%
Co-funding: €49,987.19
Duration: 36 months
Start Date: 01/03/2022
End Date: 01/03/2025
Coordination: LandraTech
Consortium: LandraTech and MORE CoLAB - Mountains of Research Collaborative Laboratory
Status: Completed
Project Website: WebLand Platform