An artist's impression of Ensis' research into how biorefineries can be used to produce a range of new products from commercial forests.

Biorefineries to transform traditional forestry sector

Reference: 07/74

Biorefineries will change the face of traditional forestry industries, an Australian scientist will tell delegates to a major international biotechnology conference – Bio 2007 – in Boston MA, today.

• 11 May 2007

Dr Simon Potter, a researcher from Ensis – the forestry research joint venture between Australia’s CSIRO and New Zealand’s Crown Research Institute, Scion – says forestry industries will be transformed by utilising biorefineries to produce a wide range of new, high-value products.

A biorefinery is essentially a fermentation process, whereby fibre or waste from trees or other plants are processed and transformed into a base for new products.

“Traditional forest industries produce wood products, pulp and paper and energy, however, by applying a biorefinery concept, the industry could extend its value streams and produce alternative fuels, plastics, textiles, pharmaceuticals, functional food additives and fragrances, to name a few,” Dr Potter says.

Ensis is undertaking phenomics gene research to better understand gene function in trees, which will form the basis of the development of whole new industries for the forestry sector.

“Our phenomic research is specifically focused on enhancing the growth and wood characteristics of trees, which means they could be grown specifically to make biofuels, plastics or other bio-based products,” Dr Potter says.

“Biotechnology can help us select species that have more potential in certain end uses. We have been using this technique for some time in traditional forestry to ensure that we breed the best trees for fibre and wood quality.

“Now we are seeking to take that a step further and help lead the industry into new, high-value industries,” he says.

“We predict that future tree plantations will be different to what they are now, with trees grown for a wider range of purposes than housing or other traditional end uses.

“With the number of plantation forests expected to grow threefold in the next decade, the industry has a real opportunity to embrace these new technologies and carve out new, higher value markets.”

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