Wood, Bamboo and Palm Wood - similarities and differences in research and technology development

Wood science has a history of several hundred years, bamboo research started in the of the last century and palm wood research is even younger. Consequently, there are differences not only in depth and width of knowledge, but also in the state of the art of conversion technologies and utilization options. There are considerable wood resources all over the world, but bamboo and palm resources are restricted to certain regions. Similarities and differences in research and technology development related to the three raw materials will be examined and expected future developments will be discussed. Technological progress needs time for a) development based on fundamental knowledge and practical experience, b) diffusion of knowledge into industry, and last but not least c) consumer acceptance and commercial breakthrough. Policy interaction may accelerate development and diffusion of knowledge, however in some cases may also impede or hinder the utilization of a specific raw material resource. While wood science and wood technology have reached a mature stage, research on bamboo and bamboo utilization is progressing rapidly; however, research on palm wood and, especially, the processing of palm wood and the utilization of palm products is still at an early stage. Existing knowledge and expertise around wood/bamboo science and technology should be used for speeding-up the development and realization of palm wood utilization options.