The Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture’s research organization, EMBRAPA (Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária) will partner with FuturaGene to collaborate on research into tree species for sustainable development.

Their first joint effort will look at incorporating an aluminium-tolerant gene of EMBRAPA into FuturaGene eucalyptus germplasm, to improve production in areas with soil affected by aluminium toxicity.

According to CEO of FuturaGene, Stanley Hirsch, “agroforestry is a key weapon in fighting climate change and driving socio-economic development”.

President of EMBRAPA Mauricio Antonio Lopes, said the partnership “enables both companies to maximise their efforts towards sustainable, high yielding crops and the transition to a green economy.”

EMBRAPA is one of the largest public sector tropical agriculture R&D organisations, with strong agroforestry capabilities and more than 2,300 researchers in 42 centers around Brazil. FuturaGene is a world leader in the enhancement of yield and sustainability of woody crops for plantation forestry, biopower and biofuel markets.

Read the full story on Bioenergy News: FuturaGene collaborates on biomass with Brazilian Agriculture Ministry

Or on Bioportfolio: FuturaGene and EMBRAPA sign an umbrella Cooperation Framework Agreement