Catalan Institute of Cork
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ICSuro promotes the Catalan cork sector through research, innovation and communication
PRESENTATION
ICSuro
THE FOUNDATION
CATALAN INSTITUTE OF CORK
The Institut Català del Suro (ICSuro) is a non-profit, scientific private foundation whose mission is to promote the cork sector.
It was established in 1991 as a public-private consortium, created by Presidential Decree in 1991, formed by the Departments of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, Food and Natural Environment, the Department of Business and Employment, as well as , AECORK (Associació d'Empresaris Surers de Catalunya), the Forestry Consortium of Catalonia, the Chamber of Commerce of Girona, the Chamber of Commerce of Palamós, the Chamber of Commerce of Sant Feliu de Guíxols, the Town Councils of Palafrugell and Cassà de la Selva, the University of Girona and the European Network of Surer Territories.
Since 2019 it has been a private foundation, continuing the trajectory started in 1991 to become a world-leading organization in cork research.
At ICSuro we contribute to research and knowledge of the Catalan cork sector
PRESENTATION AND TRANSPARENCY
MISSION
The foundation's mission is to promote the development of the entire value chain of the Catalan cork sector, from the forest to the final product, through research, innovation and promotion.
Statutes
PURPOSES
The functions of ICSuro are to stimulate the development of the sector, contribute to research and knowledge of the sector, define and present proposals for action to the competent bodies and other actions to develop, favor and promote the Catalan cork sector.
organizational chart
Board of Trustees
team
Financial statements
Annual accounts
Economic report
Registry of Catalan interest groups
Identification number: 3339
Targets
Activity report
ICSuro
Strategic lines 2020-2025
The result of an intense work of analysis of the present and future situation and the consensus between the different actors linked to the cork sector - in the forestry part: the Consorci Forestal de Catalunya, the Forest Property Center, PEFC, the Ministry of 'Agriculture, Fishing, Food and Environment (MAPAMA), the General Directorate of Rural Development, Innovation and Agri-Food Training of MAPAMA and the European Forest Institute; in the wine part, the International Organization of Wine (OIV) and the Wine Technology Platform (PTV) participated, during 2019 the Strategic Plan of the Institut Català del Suro Foundation was finalized until the year 2025 with a series of work lines:
INVESTIGATING THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE CORK TO THE POSITIVE EVOLUTION OF WINES
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Train wineries on good bottling practices.
- Generate scientific publications on the influence of corks in the positive evolution of wines and cavas.
- Investigate the changes produced by alternative caps in the evolution of wine.
- Develop technology for the elimination of unwanted aromas.
- Maintain the UNE secretariat and ISO Spanish delegation in the matter of cork.
INCREASING THE SUSTAINABLE USE AND REGENERATION OF OAK FORESTS, AN EXAMPLE OF SYMBIOSIS BETWEEN HUMAN AND NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS
- Implement a new forestry service parallel to cork extraction (biomass, honey, pasture, hiking...) in cork oak forests in Catalonia.
- Facilitate the extraction of burnt cork to put it back into production.
- Have a database of forest owners to facilitate the interrelationship between buyers and sellers.
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Ensure the professionalization of the cork tap through the training of peelers and their professional accreditation.
- Collaborate in the elimination of pests (cork beetle, cork caterpillar...) through collaboration with the Administration
- Train managers and forest owners in the economic management of cork farms
INVESTIGATING THE BIOECONOMY OF THE SURER SECTOR FOR ITS SPECIAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE MITIGATION OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND LOCAL ECONOMIC DYNAMIZATION
- Continuation of business projects on alternative uses for non-pluggable cork and by-products: cosmetics, 3D printing, design and construction.
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Generate a new business area with recycled corks (circular economy).
 
- Investigate the feasibility of intensive cork planting with automatic irrigation.
TO SPREAD THE VALUE THROUGH THE TERRITORY OF THE USE OF THE CORK FORESTS FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF ITS ECOLOGICAL, CULTURAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS, TO THEIR INHABITANTS AND ABROAD
- Generate cork promotion activities jointly between the different actors in the territory: annual communication plan.
- Promote the realization of exhibitions about the southern world as well as digital material for its dissemination.
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Energize the Ruta del Suro and coordinate it if necessary.
 
- Promote the planting of cork oaks as leisure and team building activities.
PROMOTE INTERNATIONAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE CONTRIBUTION TO THE BIOECONOMY AND RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION OF THE SURER SECTOR
- Collaborate with international prescribers and disseminators to spread the values of cork.
- Provide training on cork in all oenology faculties in Spain.
- Run an international digital campaign for the promotion of the cork bioeconomy.
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Participate in international technological platforms.
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