Technical

Tree Crop Technologies’ core areas of technical expertise are in genetic improvement of tree species and in irrigated plantations for effluent and by-product water re-use.  Key competencies include:

Tree improvement and research

• Tree breeding for enhanced production, processing and silvicultural traits, plus tolerance to environmental stress
• Trial design and analysis
• Clonal propagation
• Forest and plant biotechnology
• Germplasm acquisition
• General forestry research

Irrigated plantations for effluent and by-product water re-use and site evaluation

• Tree water use, plantation water balance and irrigation modelling
• Irrigated plantation design
• Effluent and by-product water re-use
• Salt and leaching fraction modelling
• Soil suitability for dryland and irrigated plantation development
• Growth modelling

CSG Water Management is a strategic alliance between Tree Crop Technologies and The Pump House. It is the leading supplier of bespoke biological infrastructure to the Australian Coal Seam Gas (CSG) Industry. Australian CSG producers use Irrigated Forest Plantation and Cropping Program for the beneficial use of CSG produced water.

The production of CSG produces large volumes of waste water. Beneficial use of CSG produced water to irrigate trees is an innovative approach that addresses the twin problems of CSG waste water salinity and volume.

The Irrigated Forest Plantation and Cropping Program is cost effective, environmentally sustainable and conforms to strict State Government legislative and regulatory requirements for the beneficial use of CSG waste water. Clients benefit from turnkey, biological solutions that let them focus on gas production.
For more information, visit www.csgwatermanagement.com.au.

Operational

Tree Crop Technologies staff have over 90 years accumulated forest management experience.  Tree Crop staff have pioneered development of species for salt and drought tolerance, and management practices for medium rainfall regions. 

Tree Crop has highly developed plantation management systems including work instructions, quality management systems, workplace health and safety policies, environmental policies, and agreements database. 

Tree Crop has an established contractor and nursery network, particularly throughout Queensland and NSW.

The combination of Tree Crop’s experience and management systems enable it to provide either a turnkey plantation management service, or individual service elements including:

• Plantation project management
• Plantation management planning
• Mapping and GIS
• Soil and site assessment
• Land purchase
• Site-species matching
• Forest plantation establishment
• Effluent and by-product water irrigation
• Forest plantation management and monitoring
• Forest inventory
• Fire and risk management
• Community and stakeholder engagement

Environmental

Tree Crop Technologies has particular expertise in the use of commercial plantations to address environmental management issues including:

• Effluent irrigation and by-product water re-use
• Commercial forestry for salinity management
• Commercial forestry for natural resource management
• A commitment to Biological farming practices to promote soil enhancement

Carbon

Australia has established a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 60% of year 2000 levels by 2050.  In December 2007, Australia became a signatory to the Kyoto Protocol.  This will allow international trade of carbon reduction credits.  This market was worth $30 billion in 2006.  The Government has foreshadowed the introduction of an Australian Emissions Trading Scheme (AETS) from 2010.  Forest sequestration is expected to be a key platform in the proposed AETS.

Tree Crop Technologies is able to provide the following services in relation to carbon plantation growers: 

• Evaluation of land for compliance with Kyoto protocol
• Plantation management systems for integrated production of timber and carbon
• Carbon accounting practices compliant with accredited carbon trading schemes
• Plantation inventory for carbon stock estimation
• Assistance to industrial companies and the equity investment sector on preparation for the Australian Emissions Trading Scheme to be introduced in 2010

Biofuels

Tree Crop Technologies is currently working on genetic improvement of tree species to provide feedstock for production of bio-diesel.  Specific areas of expertise include:

• Species for production of biodiesel
• Genetic improvement of biofuel species
• Plantation management systems for biofuel species

Commercial

Tree Crop Technologies has particular expertise in commercialisation of plant related technology and protection of intellectual property:

• Technology commercialisation (plant and biotechnology)
• Plant intellectual property management
• Commercial project review
• Plantation investment analysis
• Plantation project and contract management