Foresting Tomorrow

It’s that time of year again! For our final episode of 2025, we return to our traditional recording spot—Skallerup Seaside Resort in northern Denmark—for a cosy and reflective Christmas special.

This time, all three hosts are present, gathered around a very full table of æbleskiver, lukewarm gløgg, and open-hearted reflections. No news segments. No guests. Just an honest conversation about the year that’s passed—what we’ve learned, what surprised us, and how far we’ve come as a team, as a company, and as individuals.

We unpack:

• Growing into our roles, responsibilities, and rhythms

• Why the last 10% of automation is the hardest—and most fun

• Balancing ambition with simplicity

• The power of asking “Why do we actually do it this way?”

• Hope, realism, and our 2026 wishes for forestry, nature, and tech

From AI-powered cookie recipes to the philosophical meaning of “hygge,” this episode is our little Christmas gift to you—warm, thoughtful, and full of laughs.

Thank you for being with us in 2025.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Foresting Tomorrow team!

Hosted by Jens Isbak, Rasmus Pedersen, and Benjamin Lauridsen.

This week we’re joined by Peter Hasulyó—the Hungarian forester-turned-journalist behind ForestryBrief, one of Europe’s fastest-growing forestry newsletters.

We trace Peter’s journey from timber trade to publishing, and explore what inspired him to launch a global newsletter on forest policy, tech, and market dynamics—published twice a week.

But the real focus of this episode? Forestry’s public image. We dive into Peter’s recent article “The PR battle forestry never fought: How we lost public opinion while perfecting sustainability”—a sharp critique of the industry’s PR problem, why foresters are losing the narrative, and what it takes to rebuild public trust. We cover:

• What makes forestry so hard to communicate

• How nature NGOs have filled the storytelling gap

• The dangers of being an "open factory" with no PR strategy

• Why foresters should collaborate with conservation groups—not just clash with them

• And why sustainable forestry is still misunderstood—even in 2025

A thoughtful episode about reputation, responsibility, and the stories we fail to tell—featuring a man who’s making it his job to change that.

Foresting Tomorrow is a weekly podcast hosted by Jens Isbak, Rasmus Pedersen, and Benjamin Lauridsen.

We start with the gift that keeps on giving: the EUDR. Parliament and Council are now mostly aligned on a major revision - postponements for all, simplified due diligence, and a lighter process for small forest owners and farmers. But what actually happens next? We untangle the latest twists in the regulatory saga and look at what might be under the tree (or missing) before New Year’s Eve.

Then we head to Canada, where a timber shell roof is solving a major World Cup problem - too much noise. Vancouver’s new fan zone boasts the world’s largest timber arch roof, designed not just for aesthetics and sustainability, but also to reflect sound inward instead of disturbing the neighbourhood.

Also in this episode:

• Sweden’s autonomous forest robot ‘AORO’ gets trained in the Unity game engine
• Why you shouldn’t confuse cats with logs
• A warm-up for next week’s guest episode with Peter Hasulyó from ForestryBrief

A relaxed December episode with robots, real wood, and regulatory déjà vu. Plus a short debate on coffee and whether 42 is really the answer to everything.

Foresting Tomorrow is a weekly podcast hosted by Jens Isbak, Rasmus Pedersen, and Benjamin Lauridsen.

We kick off with a local twist: recent Danish elections saw barely a whisper about forests or nature - despite many municipalities quietly working on ambitious reforestation plans. We explore how places like Aalborg Kommune are expanding their forest cover, and why turning farmland into forest remains a huge political and economic challenge.

Then it’s off to space. Again. Planet has launched “OWL” - a new generation of Earth observation satellites with 1m resolution, near-daily coverage, and on-board AI. We unpack what this means for forest monitoring, data access, and privacy in a world of 24/7 satellite eyes.

Also in this episode:

• What’s really going on with the EUDR? Parliament fast-tracks it, Council deadlocks it - and Denmark is stuck chairing the whole mess
• Australia’s ForestTECH conference: why we still want to go
• Is it time for satellites to block the sun? (Elon thinks so)
• A rant on biodiversity buzzwords - and why “Reduced Biodiversity Footprint” might be the most confusing phrase of the year

A wide-ranging episode on policy, technology, and communication - plus a reminder that owls are, in fact, not that smart.

Foresting Tomorrow is a weekly podcast hosted by Jens Isbak, Rasmus Pedersen, and Benjamin Lauridsen.

We kick off with more EUDR updates: micro and small operators might catch a break - but only if they’re truly small. We break down what the European Commission’s latest proposal actually means, and why it’s still a mess for … everybody!?

Then we turn up the heat - literally. The UN now says the 1.5°C climate target is likely out of reach. We discuss new projections, rising global temperatures, and how foresters are responding with mixed-species planting and cautious optimism (sometimes).

Also in this episode:

• FSC launches “Trace” blockchain tracking, paired with isotope-based timber origin testing

• Is it time to factor extreme weather into forest models?

• The world’s tallest Christmas tree… in Jens’ kitchen?

A packed episode with forest fraud, global temperature rise, and a bit of festive spirit.

Foresting Tomorrow is a weekly podcast hosted by Jens Isbak, Rasmus Pedersen, and Benjamin Lauridsen.

Autumn’s here, and so is a new wave of forest innovation. We kick off with an update on the EUDR delay drama - nothing’s been voted on yet, but small companies might get more time while the rest are still expected to comply. What happens next?

Then we go orbital: ESA’s Biomass satellite sends its first forest maps, and we revisit SMOS a 15-year-old satellite unexpectedly helping us estimate biomass from space. Promising tech, but still far from everyday forest tools.

Also in this episode:

• Super wood that’s fireproof, bullet-stopping, and denser than aluminium
• What makes a forest model “dynamic” - and why it matters
• Can satellite data replace field plots for national inventories?
• Shrimp shell secrets and the future of biomass bio-refining
• A crisp return to forestry, satellites, and science - with a hint of seafood.

Foresting Tomorrow is a weekly podcast hosted by Jens Isbak, Rasmus Pedersen, and Benjamin Lauridsen.

In this week’s episode, we kick off with a soap opera… literally. From Days of Our Lives to the drama of EUDR, we dive deep into the EU’s forest regulation rollercoaster. Is it postponed or not? We look at key dates, industry responses, and why major companies like Nestlé and Ferrero are pushing against delay - even as technical failures with the TRACES system continue.

Then we go full sci-fi: humanoid robots are now competing in the "Olympics". From sprinting to boxing, the machines are coming - and we ask whether forestry should be their next frontier. Could robot limbs prune oak branches or prep Christmas trees? How close are we to viable humanoid labour in the woods?

Also in this episode:

• A new study on natural regeneration in Europe shows mixed forests fare better under climate stress - but is that enough?
• Could Douglas fir and non-native species save our timber supply?
• Why dynamic models matter for predicting forest growth - and why they still fall short
• After the wildfire comes… the flood? We explore post-fire danger zones and the US task forces modelling burn risk and terrain collapse

A wild mix of regulation, robotics, research, and regeneration. Plus, a gentle reminder: don’t base your strategy on a delay that hasn’t happened yet.

Foresting Tomorrow is a weekly podcast hosted by Jens Isbak, Rasmus Pedersen, and Benjamin Lauridsen.

We’re back with a deep dive into one of the most talked-about topics in forestry right now: the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) - and its second major delay. In this episode, we untangle the ambitions, technical hurdles, and industry frustrations surrounding what was meant to be a global benchmark for traceability and legality in forest-related products.

We explore what EUDR actually demands, how it differs from the older EU Timber Regulation (EUTR), and why the much-hyped TRACES system - designed to handle it all - is failing to deliver. With unclear documentation, legacy tech (SOAP APIs, anyone?), and a proposed one-year delay, we discuss whether this is just growing pains or a signal of deeper dysfunction.

Also in this episode:

• What deforestation vs. degradation really means in EUDR terms
• Why traceability through the value chain is so complex - especially for timber products
• Whether Denmark (and other low-risk countries) should be exempt
• What role FSC/PEFC certification might play as a workaround or stepping stone
• How public IT projects keep repeating the same costly mistakes

We wrap up with ideas on what can be done now - despite the uncertainty - and question whether Denmark should lean into its strengths to lead by example, rather than opt out.

Foresting Tomorrow is a weekly podcast hosted by Jens Isbak, Rasmus Pedersen, and Benjamin Lauridsen.

We’re back! After a long summer break, season 3 kicks off with satellites, timber losses, and surprising wood applications. First up, we look to the skies with Muon Space’s new satellite constellation, FireSat, designed to detect wildfires as small as 5x5 metres from space. With a 20-minute revisit time across the globe, could this change how early we respond to forest fires?

Next, we explore a sobering forecast: European forests could face €247 billion in timber losses by 2100 due to climate-related disturbances. We discuss the data behind this projection, what it means for forestry systems like clearcutting versus close-to-nature management, and how digital tools can help landowners plan for a more resilient future.

And finally, a lighter story—literally. Melbourne’s iconic Albert Park, home to the Australian Grand Prix, is getting a new pit building with a waffle-style CLT timber roof. Motorsport meets mass timber in a beautiful new crossover between sustainability and speed.

Also in this episode:

• Summer reflections from France, the Netherlands, and a potential tree genetics road trip
• How remote sensing is evolving with purpose-built satellites
• Why forestry economics and biodiversity must now go hand in hand
• The need for traceability and transparency in forest planning

Foresting Tomorrow is a weekly podcast hosted by Jens Isbak, Rasmus Pedersen, and Benjamin Lauridsen.

In this final episode before the summer break, we reflect on a packed few weeks of forest innovation and debate—starting with Denmark’s Naturmødet and Sweden’s Elmia Wood Fair. From policy discussions to chainsaw sports, we explore the full spectrum of what forestry means today.

We also revisit our live-recorded conversation with Aeon Group, diving into the untapped potential of forest data—from the field to the boardroom—and pitch an upcoming podcast series on the "Data Journey".

Then, things get a little wild: we examine a four-legged forestry robot developed in Poland, designed to collect data, count animals, and... gather ticks. Is it a breakthrough or just another overengineered academic project?

Finally, we explore the medical potential of pine bark. Could forest by-products become ingredients in life-saving drugs? We discuss bio-refineries, bark chemistry, and how this research could unlock new forest value chains.

A thoughtful wrap-up on forestry’s future, tech ambition, and summer reflections.

Foresting Tomorrow is a weekly podcast hosted by Jens Isbak, Rasmus Pedersen, and Benjamin Lauridsen.