Regulatory pressure and global logistical instability are reshaping the horticultural substrate market, where wood fiber is emerging as a solid raw material to partially or fully replace blond peat and coco fiber, two materials whose availability and cost have been heavily affected in recent years.
A response to the supply and sustainability crisis
"Until recently, few growers considered wood fiber a viable option, especially when other raw materials were available without limitation. However, European restrictions on peat use, due to its environmental impact and the goal of reducing CO₂ sink extraction, combined with logistical tensions affecting coco fiber, mainly imported from Asia, have accelerated change," explains José Manuel Navarro, manager of Masecor.
© Hortidaily
José Manuel Navarro, Manager of Masecor, at Fruit Attraction 2025.
"That's why a year ago, we launched a wood fiber production line at Masecor. We started by incorporating 20% into our mixes, and after one growing season, producers have not noticed major differences in substrate performance. Based on these results, and given the current challenges in raw material availability and price, we're progressively increasing its share," Navarro says.
Wood fiber offers physical properties comparable to blond peat, low density, high porosity, and good water retention, along with a high organic matter content. "These characteristics allow us to formulate stable, homogeneous mixes, balancing key chemical parameters and maintaining soil microbiota," he adds.
"While blond peat has a naturally ideal composition that's difficult to replicate, its unsustainability and rising cost make it less and less attractive. Coco fiber, which has been widely accepted for the past two decades, now faces global demand exceeding supply, transportation issues, and price volatility. In contrast, European wood fiber provides a local raw material with more controlled costs and a lower carbon footprint."
© Masecor
Economic and strategic benefits for growers
Using local raw materials also helps reduce exposure to unpredictable factors such as international conflicts or volatile shipping rates. "You can't control a war on the other side of the world, or a ship being forced to sail around Africa," Navarro says. "But with wood fiber, you can control your production cost and substrate quality, which brings stability to the supply chain."
Beyond its economic competitiveness, wood fiber adapts well to the needs of professional growers and ornamental nurseries, allowing for a gradual transition without abrupt impacts on agronomic performance.
It's also worth recalling the connection between peat and CO₂ emissions. Peatlands act as carbon sinks, naturally storing carbon dioxide. According to UNEP, peatlands cover only 3% of the Earth's surface but store nearly twice as much carbon as all the world's forests. When drained for agriculture or burned, they shift from being carbon sinks to CO₂ emitters, releasing the carbon accumulated over millennia.
"Wood fiber fits perfectly with the EU's peat-free agenda," Navarro highlights. "In Germany and other Central European countries, peat-free substrates have been promoted for years, and Spain, as one of the main producers of ornamental and horticultural plants for export, is now accelerating this transition. Wood fiber is becoming a key component in achieving the EU's 2030 Agenda and peat-reduction goals, offering a technical, sustainable product with reliable supply."
For more information:
Masecor S.L.
Don Tomás, 7 (PO Box 55)
16200 Motilla del Palancar (Cuenca)
Tel.: +34 607 340 710
[email protected]
www.masecor.com