Sustainable forestry

This is why weed control is also an important matter in forestry. And there will soon be a new tool to support this activity: “In 2012, we will launch the new active substance indaziflam into the forestry market under the leading brand name Esplanade™ – at first in Argentina, then in Brazil, Chile, Australia and other countries”, enthuses Flavio Brandao, Forestry Manager for Bayer CropScience’s Environmental Science business unit.

This new substance, which is from the chemical class of alkylazines, controls a broad spectrum of broad-leaved and grassy weeds, among them certain species that are otherwise particularly difficult to control. It provides long-lasting efficacy at low application rates. The trick: indaziflam inhibits the target plant’s ability to synthesize cellulose, an essential component of cell walls. If weeds are treated with indaziflam after they have germinated, their cells burst, and growth stops dead. Seedlings that are in the process of germinating at the time of treatment show inhibited root-development, whereas ungerminated seeds exposed to the product fail to germinate altogether.

Market experience with the new active substance is currently being gained through its use in lawn and golf course maintenance. Indaziflam has been on the U.S. market in this sector since December 2010. Brandao is convinced that the forestry industry will also respond enthusiastically to this innovative herbicide. Indaziflam already starts controlling weeds at the pre-emergence stage, so it is the suitable complement to products that are already being used to control the fully-grown plants, a fact that will be of particular interest to customers.

	The young plants are sensitive to attack by pests and diseases during the early stages of growth in the raising box. Fungicides and insecticides are often applied as standard treatments to keep the plants healthy.

Flavio Brandao, who comes from Brazil, is the Forestry Manager responsible for Bayer CropScience’s Forestry Plantation business segment, which was founded in 2005. It’s main target is a particularly promising segment of the forestry sector: the plantation market. The main actors here are the large forestry companies whose goal is to cultivate high-yielding trees – especially for the production of paper pulp and lumber. This involves raising young trees in the greenhouse and then transplanting them out into plantations. The species of most interest to the industry is pine, followed by eucalyptus, teak, poplar, acacia and mahogany. The wood can be harvested from five to 40 years after transplantation: the exact timing depends on the particular tree species.

Broad portfolio of products and services

The trees need most care and protection during the first two years of growth, because this is the period of greatest vulnerability to competition from a variety of broad-leaved and grassy weeds. But weeds are not the only problem. Even insects such as the leaf-cutting ant or the bark beetle can cause considerable harm to trees. This makes the targetted, professional use of herbicides and insecticides particularly important – and Flavio Brandao and his staff are there to help.
“With a total of 20 different brands, we have the broadest portfolio of products and solutions to help the forestry sector to maximise yields” explains Brandao. Bayer CropScience’s main target group in the plantation market are the large paper and pulp companies. “Our customers are very technology-oriented and open to any new developments that can increase productivity.” The search for new active substances and approaches succeeds through close collaboration between Bayer CropScience’s Crop Protection and Environmental Science divisions.

But the activities are not restricted to the sale of products: “We offer complete solutions,” emphasizes Brandao. Examples include regular visits to the greenhouses and plantations, consistent support and advice on raising, transplanting and subsequent care of the trees – and even more: “At the moment, we are investigating the extent to which our products have a positive effect on the CO2 emissions of one of our major Brazilian customers.”

Seal of approval for sustainable agriculture

Among the key partners in these activities are the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes (PEFC). Both organizations are committed to promoting sustainable forestry, and they issue the corresponding international seals of quality. “Our customers share our ideals regarding the stewardship of the living environment,” explains Brandao: “Almost all of the companies we cooperate with are FSC-certified, and are interested in solutions that are compatible with the principles behind the certification.”
At the moment, the main market for the Forestry Plantation business segment is Latin America, especially Brazil. However, the U.S. and Australia are also important. In future, Brandao and his co-workers are particularly interested in winning new markets in Asia. “Of course we want to continue to grow in the existing markets. But we are also planning new activities in China and Indonesia, where we hope to be able to apply the experience we’ve already gained in the Latin American countries.”
And a whole new business segment could become ever more important in future: the planting of various tree species for nature conservation or other non-commercial purposes. Here, the use of chemical crop protection products is mostly prohibited, but pest management methods based on biological agents is allowed. “We also expect to be successful in this area,” predicts Brandao. Work is in full swing in our Development department.”