Abstract
In this study, we address the possibility of implementing a biorefinery in commercial eucalyptus forest plantations and adapting to the geographical and cultural conditions of the Cauca department in Colombia, where the use of these plantations is concentrated in harvesting the stems as raw material for the paper, cardboard, and furniture industries, without any use or utilization of the residual biomass generated during harvesting or derived from the transformations inherent to such activities. A thorough review of the literature revealed that this residual biomass, mainly represented in leaves, flowers, fruits, branches, and bark, can be transformed into energy, biofuels, biochar, and various bioproducts with agricultural, agro‐industrial, or therapeutic uses, among others; and by creating a SWOT matrix, it was evident that the development of a potential biorefinery must not only be evaluated from a technical perspective but also consider the factors that generate opportunities for socioeconomic development and environmental care, adjusted to the specific context of the Cauca department. The availability of biomass throughout the year, as well as its suitability for commercial forestry plantations, along with the possibility of diversifying the products obtained, represents a strategic opportunity to promote economic and environmental sustainability in Cauca, generating employment and regional development that can be replicated for other crops in the area and/or for other areas within or outside the country with characteristics similar to those of the department of Cauca.