Technical and economic feasibility of a guayule commodity chain in Mediterranean Europe

•The guayule commodity chain does not exist in Europe. We are demonstrating that it is technically and economically feasible.•The study is based on five years trials in France and Spain, supported by EU (EU-Pearls project).•We have demonstrated that guayule can be a potential source of rubber in the Mediterranean, but the resin and bagasse must be included in the process and valued for a positive income.•Guayule can be an opportunity for other Mediterranean countries having dry areas. In order to manage the constraints that threaten the supply of natural rubber (NR) from Hevea rubber plantations, the only commercial source of NR, alternative sources were tested in Europe. Guayule, a shrub from the Mexican desert producing natural rubber was found to fit the Mediterranean climate as demonstrated by previous trials setup in France and Spain to assess its agronomic and technological feasibility. The objective of the study was to assess its economic feasibility. The financial accounts of a European guayule commodity chain model were established from data acquired from previous guayule trials carried out in southern Europe. We developed a guayule commodity chain managed by a farmer for growing biomass, and a processor for extracting rubber and other byproducts (resin, bagasse) in a conceived processing plant. Different simulations were tested to find the most feasible scenario. Based on a 10-year field cultivation period, the breakeven point for the farmer was reached at 214€ton−1 of dry biomass with an average cost of field cultivation of 1924€year−1. By purchasing biomass at farmer's breakeven point and considering latex as the only final product, the processor breakeven point was reached at latex selling price of 8.16€kg−1 of dry rubber. Otherwise, when adding the parallel production of crude rubber, resin and bagasse through biorefinery process, the latex breakeven point can be lower, at 2.46€kg−1 of dry rubber (plus crude rubber at 2.15€; resin at 2.10€; bagasse at 0.10€); all prices far below current market prices. Guayule in the Mediterranean was compared to other crops showing that it can play a role as an alternative crop from which the region can benefit to improve its economic development.