UPM Forestal Oriental - Social and Enviromental Report 2014

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT DOUBLE PRODUCTIVITY FOR ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS

Almost 25 years of research for development, as well as the investment made in the UPM Forestal Oriental Genetic Improvement Programme, which exceeds USD 50 million from 1990 to date, have ensured that cellulose yield per hectare has practically doubled. In other words, this means that producing a certain quantity of cellulose using the new genetic materials provided by UPM Forestal Oriental requires almost half of the land required by the first forest plantations. Forest plantations being created today will have a much higher productivity compared with the first forest plantations established two decades ago. This achievement is truly significant and is supported by the work of specialists and state-of-the-art technology aimed at continuous improvement. The primary venue for research into genetic improvement activities is the field; tests are set up in the same places as the operational forest plantations are installed. The key to the Genetic Improvement Programme is to evaluate large quantities of materials in all areas where they are planted, which requires multiple field tests. These improvements, the result of uninterrupted research over almost 25 years, provide the Associated Producers with superior genetic material, produced in the company’s two state-of-the-art nurseries in Uruguay.

Productores de Leche SA This unpublished agreement brings together the forestry and dairy sectors in the search for conditions to promote rural productivity. Through this agree- ment, the Associated Producers linked to the Fomento Programme can pur- chase supplies and services for their establishments from PROLESA outlets, and dairy producers can receive rel- evant forestry advice. Banco República Oriental del Uruguay Both institutions agree to undertake joint and additional actions to support the development of forest production and the logistical services connected with this. For its part, the bank offers and grants long-term loans to finance for- estry enterprises and provides financial assistance for the development of the forestry and logistics services associ- ated with UPM Forestal Oriental.

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