New Zealand Dryland Forests Innovation (NZDFI)

Our vision

New Zealand Dryland Forests Innovation (NZDFI) is a collaborative research and development project formed in 2008. Our vision is that New Zealand develops a sustainable multi-regional hardwood industry by planting 60,000 hectares of genetically improved eucalypt forests. Based on 2021 values this industry could  generate over $1billion GDP annually from 2050 onwards.

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Webinar, Wednesday 3rd December 2026, 3.00-4.30pm NZST

Markets and tree breeding for short-rotation durable eucalypt forestry

We invite you to join a webinar discussing:
(i) the Australian hardwood market opportunity for NZ durable eucalypt growers

Over the past two years, the end of sustainable harvesting of public native forests in several Australian states has cut hardwood log supply. Australia’s 200,000 ha eucalypt pulp wood plantations are no substitute. NZ durable eucalypt growers have a significant market opportunity to develop a log and/or timber trade with Australia.

Durable eucalypts offer a short rotation option to forest growers and farm foresters in Marlborough and many North Island regions. New Zealand Dryland Forests Innovation (NZDFI) is promoting a vision to plant 60,000 ha of durable hardwood forests by regional planting programmes sustained over 25-30 years.

(ii) an update on NZDFI’s tree breeding programme

Successful forestry is underpinned by planting high-quality nursery stock of improved genetics - plants of proven potential. The tree breeding cycle can take up to 20 years from testing a new forestry species through to commercial production of 1^st generation improved seed. NZDFI’s testing and breeding started in 2003.

A 2025 project by NZDFI’s Science Team has completed first generation selection of elite E. bosistoana with 24 additional top families selected and plus trees identified for Proseed NZ to collect scion material in January 2026. These will be grafted and deployed in their Amberley clonal seed orchard in spring 2026. Including new elite selections from these families will expand NZDFI’s clonal seed orchard and the commercial production of high-quality XyloGene®-branded E. bosistoana seed supply to nurseries and forest growers.

Read the full project report here.

This project was supported by the Marlborough Research Centre, University of Canterbury, Forest Growers Levy Trust and Te Uru Rākau - NZ Forest Service.

Webinar presenters:
Paul Millen is NZDFI’s manager and is based at Marlborough Research Centre
Ruth McConnochie is a tree breeding consultant who has led the deployment of NZDFI breeding programme since 2008.    

A Q&A session will follow the presentations.

Register for the webinar

To register for the webinar and receive the TEAMS link, please email Susan Foster at the Marlborough Research Centre: susan@mrc.org.nz

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