Biotechnology Approaches for

Improving Eucalyptus Biomass and Wood Quality

Miron Abramson: FuturaGene, Brazil

Abstract
The Brazilian pulp and paper industry, which relies heavily on eucalyptus plantations for its wood source, is
facing a new set of challenges from rising local costs and additional factors that include a shift into new geographies
in Brazil, climate change and disease outbreaks.
FuturaGene, which develops and delivers sustainable biotechnological solutions for eucalyptus plantations
is working to provide various solutions to Brazilian eucalyptus plantation growers to overcome some of these
challenges. We believe that biotechnology and new precision sylviculture practices can boost traditional breeding
methods and accelerate the development of novel traits to address increased productivity, sustainable wood
processing, wood quality and adaptation of eucalyptus to new geographies.
We will present some novel biotechnology strategies and solutions for improved eucalyptus growth, wood
processing and quality. To this end we will demonstrate how cell wall polysaccharide modifications can enhance cell
wall loosening and its effect on the tree cells and overall tree growth in the field. Furthermore, we will discuss some
of our new approaches to promote cell wall solubilization and wood processability by hemicellulose and lignin
modifications in transgenic plants. Exploiting these technologies would enable the pulp and paper industry to utilize
less land and resources, reduce the chemical load during wood processing and overcome the various challenges
facing this industry today.

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7th International Colloquium on Eucalyptus Pulp, May 26-29, 2015. Vitória, Espirito Santo, Brazil.