The town of Arens de Lledó in Teruel recently hosted the Wool Fair, a unique event designed to revitalize and revalue the wool sector in the province. This event, held on November 15th and 16th, was part of the Red AgriFoodTe project, led by the Center for Innovation in Rural Bioeconomy of Teruel (CITARTE), and aimed to promote the circular economy and innovation in the use of sheep wool and other agri-food by-products.

A Meeting of Knowledge and Agri-food Innovation

The Wool Fair was organized within the Living Lab for the Revaluation of Biomass, By-products, and Agri-food and Forest Waste, which seeks to optimize the use of wool, a resource traditionally underutilized. Through this event, the goal was to create a sustainable value chain connecting producers, processors, artisans, SMEs, and other key stakeholders in the sector, both locally and nationally.

The event received support from the Diputación Provincial de Teruel (DPT), the Arens de Lledó City Council, and the rural accommodation Mas la Llum. It was also funded by the Government of Aragón and the Government of Spain, one of the two partner that represents Bioloc in Spain, through the Teruel Investment Fund. The fair was a reflection of the effort to consolidate circular bioeconomy practices in the region and promote innovative agricultural practices.

Program of Activities and Workshops

Throughout the two days of the event, attendees were able to participate in a series of activities and technical sessions. On November 15th, the day began with the presentation of the Red AgriFoodTe project, followed by a series of lectures on key topics for the sector. Notable talks included Oviaragón-Materiales Textiles SA discussing wool in Aragón and Recuperación de Materiales Textiles SA, which focused on the industrial transformation of wool.

Other talks covered topics such as Aragón’s native sheep breeds, like the Merina de los Montes Universales, and participatory co-creation workshops, where attendees could contribute ideas and collaborate on designing innovative solutions for the revaluation of wool.

On November 16th, the event featured a more interactive day with stands, demonstrations, and workshops. Notable activities included the exhibition on Spanish sheep breeds, practical workshops on wool transformation, and children’s activities such as a badge-making workshop and a finger spinning demonstration.

Wool as a Resource for the Future

The Wool Fair was more than just a commercial event; it was a commitment to sustainability and the creation of a collaborative network that fosters knowledge exchange among sector stakeholders. The use of wool as an alternative resource to address environmental challenges, such as drought, and the creation of new markets and applications for this material were central topics during the sessions.

The event also featured presentations on innovative projects, such as the Map of Wools of Aragón, which was completed during the fair, and the creation of a collaborative work of art, where participants could contribute to a collective piece.