About 90 researchers, teachers and professionals from forestry companies from all over Brazil participated in the 31st Meeting of the Technical Commission on Genetics and Forest Improvement, held on August 15 and 16, in Bracell (Bahia). Promoted by SIF (Society of Forest Investigations, in Portuguese), an institution linked to UFV (Federal University of Viçosa), the meeting is coordinated by GenMFlor (Forest Improvement Technology and Development Program), a group that brings together more than 30 Brazilian and foreign companies that are related to the improvement of trees for pulp, paper, steel, biomass energy, resin and sawmill. For more than three decades, the group has met at least once a year to discuss key innovations in genetic improvement, physiology, propagation and forest biotechnology.
Professor Glêison dos Santos, from SIF/UFV, justified Bracell’s choice of hosting this year’s meeting. “We chose Bracell precisely because of this new growth cycle of the company. We see hiring people, a new profile of investment, development and technology. And as this genetics commission is always looking for innovations, we wanted to see what are the new things happening at Bracell and learn about the region’s challenges in the area of forest improvement”. After a day of debate in a hotel in the city, the group carried out a field program, with visits to areas of the company’s experiments in the municipality of Esplanada and also to Farm Salgado, in Inhambupe, where Bracell’s technical department operates.
For experts, initiatives such as the meeting of the Technical Commission on Genetics and Forest Improvement are key to addressing potential obstacles to the development of the sector. “The event has a national scope, with the participation of companies from Rio Grande do Sul to Amapá. With this, we have representatives of companies that plant in all Brazilian biomes ”, says Glêison.
Francisco Sérgio, from Gerdau, in the state of Minas Gerais, is one of the most frequent participants in the commission meetings. In his assessment, the last three editions have evolved a lot. “But this year it was one of the best in my opinion because of the variety of important issues dealt with here”, he says.
In addition to professionals from Bracell Bahia and São Paulo and the organizing institutions, professionals from Amcel, Aperam, ArcelorMittal BioFlorestas, Assistec, Cenibra, Clonar Forest Disease Resistance, CMPC Celulose Riograndense, Duratex Forestry, Eldorado Brasil Celulose, Embrapa, Ferbasa, Futuragene participated. Brazil Technology, Gerdau Forestry, Ibá (Brazilian Tree Industry), International Paper, Ipef, Forest Improvements, Klabin, Forest Synovals, Suzano, UFSB, Vallourec Forestry and Veracel.
