Process Innovation

The growing global demand for pulp, fuel and energy must be met by sustainable businesses that use fewer finite natural resources, preserving the environment.

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There fore, the focus of our research is to ensure that our tree farms have the highest possible productivity per hectare. Our technology centers, spread across Brazil and the world, conduct studies focused on forestry innovation to make our farms even more productive and sustainable. It all starts with the development of more productive eucalyptus clones that can adapt to different production environments, and we do this through our breeding initiatives.

The global demand for wood and wood-based products continues to increase. To meet this demand without irreversibly damaging natural forests, production in renewable forests must be sustainably intensified. Eucalyptus farms are a major source of renewable raw material for paper and packaging products that are used daily and as an alternative raw material to fossil fuels for the production of materials such as plastics as well as bio-oils. Biotechnology is an important tool to enhance the sustainability of renewable eucalyptus farms.

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Biotechnology can be used to genetically modify eucalyptus varieties, which have enhanced yield, better protection against diseases and pests, are herbicide tolerant and are more resilient to the effects of climate change. Modified trees make a major contribution to the sustainability as they need less land and natural resources to develop and have lower management requirements, lessening the use of fossil fuels for plantation management. Given the critical role that forests play in sustaining the planet, the integration of science and technology into forest genetic development and management has the potential to contribute significantly to planetary sustainability.

Forest Biotechnology is the focus of FuturaGene, Suzano’s biotech division, which has innovation centers and field operations in Brazil and Israel. With a unique geo-integrated management system, the division spans the value chain from discovery research and development, intellectual property management, regulatory and public affairs and communications though to delivery of deregulated products to the Suzano breeding teams. To date, FuturaGene has successfully developed and received regulatory approval for 8 modified eucalyptus varieties, which constitute the only modified eucalyptus worldwide.

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Suzano’s GM Trees Policy underscores our commitment to conduct research and development within a framework of ethical practices including benefit sharing and global dialogue with all stakeholders in Brazil and worldwide. To learn more, visit the FuturaGene website and read our Genetically Modified Trees Policy.

We operate in different regions of Brazil, with different climate and soil conditions, which challenges us to find the right eucalyptus trees for each location.

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To help us in this process, we developed Tetrys, an algorithm that uses analytics, big data and artificial intelligence to evaluate scenarios. This technology identifies eucalyptus seedlings that can best adapt to variables such as temperature, rainfall, altitude, and soil type and texture. In addition to increasing planting safety and forest productivity, Tetrys reduces the risk of environmental issues, including the incidence of pests and diseases.

We invest in biological control alternatives to reduce the use of pesticides. In 2022, for example, we reached record production of natural enemies of pests. In our laboratories, we produce approximately 205 million biological control agents used in eucalyptus farms to prevent damage from pests and from the use of chemical insecticides. We believe that by scaling up production and acting preventively within the parameters of integrated pest management, we will achieve an ecological balance that will allow us to eliminate the use of agrochemicals.