ArborGen announced that it is expanding its agreement with International Paper (IP) Brazil by granting ArborGen additional access to IP’s Eucalyptus germplasm. This will allow an increased effort to develop and sell new varieties of seedlings with improved traits and capable of being grown in regions of Brazil where there is growing interest in Eucalyptus plantations.

Timberlands

ArborGen and International Paper Brazil expand eucalyptus sales and development agreement

ArborGen announced that it is expanding its agreement with International Paper (IP) Brazil by granting ArborGen additional access to IP’s Eucalyptus germplasm.

This will allow an increased effort to develop and sell new varieties of seedlings with improved traits and capable of being grown in regions of Brazil where there is growing interest in Eucalyptus plantations. Since 2013 when the company began its commercial sales operation sales have increased to a current projection of 47 million Eucalyptus seedlings and nine million Pine seedlings in 2016.

The Eucalyptus market utilizes approximately 700 million seedlings per year. With the original agreement, private landowners gained access to elite Eucalyptus clones that were once only available to integrated producers. This new agreement will increase that access and allow for additional development of advanced genetics for landowners.

“This expanded agreement allows ArborGen to utilize its advanced technologies and tree breeding expertise with IP germplasm to continue to improve the genetics of existing seedlings. We will also be able to offer additional benefits such as increased yields and improved growth to landowners while expanding the breeding program to other regions of Brazil and other sectors as sawtimber, bioenergy, etc.,” said Gabriela Monnerat, managing director of ArborGen of Brazil.

"We know the genetic material choice is fundamental to guarantee the success of any new forestry development, so the expansion of the agreement with ArborGen provides the opportunity for other companies to produce wood with top quality genetic material. IP continues investing in actions and programs which contribute to the growth of the forestry sector in Brazil," highlights Luis Fernando Silva, Fiber Production Senior manager at International Paper.

ArborGen is the largest global supplier of seedling products and a leading provider of improved technologies to the commercial forest industry.