plantation Technology
The Company, in addition to paper and pulp raw materials, is also promoting overseas plantation business with a view to energy and biochemical applications. Led by AMCEL in Brazil, we are promoting clonal propagation by cuttings, genetic improvement, development of wood analysis methods, and improvement of the growing environment in order to improve the productivity of forest plantation areas. Furthermore, we contribute to securing forest resources through genomic breeding technologies and laser surveying.
overseas plantation
Nippon Paper Industries overseas plantation
In addition to our current core business, which is raw materials for paper and pulp, we are also promoting overseas plantation business with a view to energy and biochemical applications.
Productivity Enhancement
Technology development to improve productivity in plantation areas.
The Research Laboratory dispatches local expatriates to develop technologies to improve productivity in plantation areas. Among them, AMCEL in Brazil has a plantable area of approximately 100,000 hectares, which is the largest single afforestation business in the Company, and is planting trees using seedlings produced through clonal propagation from cuttings.
Acceleration of early growth
Enhancement of early growth in plantation trees
In order to ensure the stable supply of timber and environmental conservation, AMCEL, in collaboration with local staff, is undertaking the following initiatives to improve the mean annual increment (MAI) of plantation trees:
(1) Genetic improvement
(2) Development of wood analysis methods
(3) Improvement of the growing environment
Elite Tree
Genetic improvement of plantation trees.
We improve plantation trees by selecting superior individuals from test plantations, producing clonal seedlings from cuttings (selective breeding), and conducting controlled crossing.
In addition, we apply genome analysis and molecular marker information to improve the efficiency of breeding through paternity testing and marker breeding (genomic selection).
Improvement of the growing environment
In order to ensure that the improved plantation trees can grow healthily, we conduct soil surveys and growth tests, and develop monitoring methods such as laser surveys. We also work with local staff to improve the growth environment of trees.
