Logging Truck: Forest operations and the spread of tree pathogens
Project start: 10 February 2023
Project length: 3 years
MPI funding: $155,200
Industry funding: $412,000
Industry partner: Scion
Region: Nationwide
This project will examine the potential spread of disease-causing forest pathogens through forestry operations, such as logging truck movement between sites. It will use high-throughput DNA sequencing methods to identify pathogens in soils/debris sampled from different parts of logging trucks to quantify this risk. Network risk-analysis will be undertaken, and protocols will be established if forestry operations are shown to be sources of unintentional spread of soil-borne forest pathogens.
Embodied carbon engineering web application
Project start: 8 February 2023
Project length: 1 year
MPI funding: $170,000
Industry funding: $244,000
Industry partner: V-Quest Limited
Region: Nationwide
This project aims to facilitate the uptake of sustainable construction products and methodologies and promote the local New Zealand timber economy. This will be done through developing a web application that automates the analysis of upfront carbon emissions across multiple build methodologies. The application balances the relationship between project cost and upfront embodied carbon, resulting in more sustainable construction.
Advanced NZ lignin commercialisation
Project start: 13 December 2022
Project length: 1 year
MPI funding: $602,128
Industry funding: $903,192
Industry partner: Futurity Bio Ventures Ltd
Region: Waikato, Bay of Plenty
This project seeks to commercially validate the technology to produce advanced lignin raw materials. These materials will be derived from the by-product of the wood pulping process (black liquor). They have the potential to replace traditional fossil fuel-based inputs in targeted end-use products such as bitumen replacement, phenolic resins, and paper product additives.
Wood petrochemical substitutes one step closer – Newsroom
Transitioning exotic forest to native
Project start: 11 October 2022
Project length: 5 years
MPI funding: $885,000
Industry funding: $202,000
Industry partner: Tane’s Tree Trust
Region: Nationwide
This research programme aims to provide an evidence base around transitioning exotic forest to natives in New Zealand. It will involve surveys, experiments and modelling examining different pine or eucalyptus canopies to see how native forest species are able to regenerate both underneath and within naturally thinning canopies.
Precision silviculture
Project start: 23 March 2022
Project length: 7 years
MPI funding: $10.2 million
Industry funding:$15.3 million
Industry partner: Forest Growers Research Limited
Region: Nationwide
This programme will enable the forestry industry to switch to the latest silviculture technology. It will focus on developing mechanisation, automation, digital technology and robotics in the silviculture value chain. This will have a major impact on the key silvicultural areas of planting, pruning and thinning, as well as in-nursery activities.
Technical innovation to revolutionise forestry – Government media release
July to September 2022 – Precision Silviculture progress report [PDF, 257 KB]
Wood fire-retardant pilot project
Project start: 19 March 2021
Project length: 3 years
MPI funding: $785,548
Industry funding: $1,178,322
Industry partner: Abodo Wood Ltd
Region: Bay of Plenty
This project will research, develop and trial the commercialisation of a resin formula to create a durable fire-retardant exterior wood prototype from New Zealand grown radiata pine. The product will be used in industrial applications where timber is currently prohibited. It will be tested against New Zealand, Australian, European, and American standards for fire retardant properties, performance and durability.
Parasitoids for sustainable pest management in eucalypt plantations
Project start: 11 March 2021
Project length: 3 years
MPI funding: $407,011
Industry funding: $492,000
Industry partner: Scion
Region: Waikato/ Southland
This project will develop sustainable methods to manage eucalyptus tortoise beetle that defoliate Eucalyptus nitens (short fibre producing trees) and limit growth. In particular, it will research the beneficial impact of, and assist with releasing the biological control agent Eadya daenerys, with the aim of establishing it in New Zealand.
Best Practice Plantation Forestry Sedimentation Controls
Project start: 25 May 2020
Project length: 7 years
MPI funding: $1,350,000
Industry funding: $1,350,000
Industry partner: OneFortyOne
Region: Nelson/Tasman
This project is establishing and executing a plantation forest paired catchment study to assess the performance of innovative erosion and sediment controls. It will quantify how much sediment can be prevented from leaving a plantation forest harvesting site, the ecological effects of reducing sediment generation and delivery, and the operating costs of implementing new standards and practices. Findings will be shared widely.
