Promoted by the recently created Centre for Risk Studies of the Porto University (www.cerup.org) an international conference on risk in production activities was held on 10-12 October 2007 in the city of Porto.

The Portucel Soporcel group, in addition to sponsoring the conference, also contributed with a paper by Mr. Tiago Oliveira, from its Forest area, on the theme of “Forest Risk and Management – an opportunity for efficiency”. The paper stresses the challenge of improving operational efficiency, reducing risk and increasing the yield of the forest. Besides the example which it sets in terms of the management of its forests and the supply of its industrial units, its know-how and the fact that it is part of a global knowledge network, the Group also challenged the universities, investors in the forest, forest owners and their associations to set up partnerships capable of devising innovating and accessible solutions viewing the sustainability of a sector that is vital for the Portuguese economy.

During the two days of the conference, risk issues were addressed from a variety of points of view, in addition to the session dedicated to forestry and agricultural themes. Risk concepts and risk prevention methodologies, a well established concern of engineering and finance organisations, is now gaining momentum in a wide range of fields of activity (namely Finance, Energy, Construction, the Environment, Forestry and Farming, Logistics and Harbours, Management of industrial waste, Fishing and extreme Meteorological Events). The participants in the event thus had the opportunity to get acquainted with the variety of points of view from which risk can be addressed. From insurance and re-insurance companies (SwissRe, AIG, MDS – Sonae), to companies in the energy sector (Partex Oil and Gás, EDP, REN, Instituto Nuclear, Martifer), and construction companies (papers presented by universities and corporate organisations) the number of practical examples submitted were many.