FuturaGene is an agricultural biotechnology company that researches and delivers agronomic traits that improve and protect yields for forestry, biofuels, biopower, and agriculture.
The companys strategic focus is renewable woody biomass, with plantation forestry, biopower (pellets for combustion and co-firing), and biofuels (cellulose to ethanol) as its target sectors. Its leading crops for these sectors are subtropical eucalyptus for the plantation-based pulp and paper industry and short-rotation energy poplar and eucalyptus for biopower and biofuel.
In China, FuturaGene is exploring the potential of woody desert species to couple ecosystem services with economic offtake. One of these, yellow horn (Xanthoceras sorbifolia), is an oil-bearing tree of increasing importance, and FuturaGene aims to be a major provider of elite seedlings of this species as well as an integrated oil producer.
With lab and field facilities in Israel, Brazil, China, and the United States, the companys in-house focus is on relevant traits for eucalyptus and poplar in those markets. FuturaGene has obtained regulatory approval to commercially deploy a yield-enhanced, genetically modified eucalyptus variety.
FuturaGene is a subsidiary of Suzano Pulp and Paper.