Science and Genetic Improvement Drive a New Phase for Black Wattle in Brazil

For nearly a century, Black Watle (Acacia mearnsii) has been part of the landscape, economy and history of thousands of families in southern Brazil. Today, the combination of scientific research, genetic improvement and the expertise of the forestry sector is opening a new chapter for this crop, with the potential to significantly increase forest productivity and profitability.

One of the initiatives directly contributing to this progress is being conducted by the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), through its Plant Breeding and Vegetative Propagation Center, in partnership with companies operating throughout the Black Watle value chain.

Over the past few years, researchers and the industry have been selecting superior genetic material with the objective of establishing more productive and uniform plantations that are beter adapted to the growing conditions of Rio Grande do Sul state. The research focuses on economically important traits, including tree growth, wood and bark production, and the quality of the products obtained from the plantations.

Higher productivity in a shorter rotation
Advances in genetic improvement are now beginning to reach commercial-scale plantations and growers.

Based on the selected genetic material and advances in silvicultural practices, productivity gains of approximately 40% are expected, together with the potential to gradually reduce the traditional forest rotation from around seven years to approximately five years, under suitable growing conditions.

This can significantly change the economics of Black Watle forestry.

Producing more wood and bark per hectare while bringing the harvest forward means increasing land productivity, shortening the period between revenues and improving the grower’s return on investment.

Brazilian Black Watle bark already commands a higher value
These advances become even more relevant when the value of Black Watle bark is considered.

In Brazil, Black Watle bark used for the production of natural tannins is currently traded, as a market reference, at approximately US$ 240 per metric ton delivered to the processing plant, based on the prevailing exchange rate.

In South Africa, another major global producer of Acacia mearnsii, industry reference values place the raw material at approximately US$ 180 per metric ton delivered to the processing plant.

Based on these reference values, Brazilian Black Watle bark commands a price approximately 33% higher in US dollar terms per metric ton.

There is also an important difference in forest rotation. While Black Watle plantations in southern Brazil are traditionally harvested after approximately six to seven years, commercial plantations in South Africa generally operate with longer rotations, often around 10 to 11 years.

When the higher value of the bark, forest productivity and shorter rotation are considered together, Brazil offers highly competitive conditions for the continued development of the black watle forestry sector.

One tree, multiple value chains
The economic importance of Black Watle extends far beyond a single product.

After harvesting, virtually the entire tree can be utilized industrially. The wood, in the form of logs or woodchips, is mainly supplied to the pulp and paper, biomass and energy sectors. The bark, which is naturally rich in tannins, is processed into products used in leather tanning, water and wastewater treatment, animal nutrition, beverages, cosmetics and several other industrial applications.

In this way, a single Black Watle plantation connects growers, nurseries, forestry contractors, transportation companies, processing industries and customers in different parts of the world.

Research reaching the grower
Perhaps the most important aspect of the genetic improvement program is its ability to transform scientific knowledge into results in the field.

Genetic selection, the production of improved seed, the development of higher-quality seedlings and their commercial-scale deployment allow the advances achieved through years of research to be transferred directly to growers.

If the projected gains are confirmed under commercial operating conditions, the combination of an approximately 40% increase in productivity and a reduction in the forest rotation from seven to five years could represent a significant improvement in the profitability of Black Watle forestry.

The benefits extend throughout the entire value chain: they begin with the grower, reach nurseries and forestry service providers, increase the availability of wood and bark for processing industries, and strengthen the competitiveness of Brazilian products in international markets.

This is a clear example of how collaboration between universities, industry and growers can transform a nearly century-old forestry activity into an increasingly technological, productive and sustainable business.

For the thousands of families involved in the black watle industry in southern Brazil, genetic improvement means more than simply growing trees faster. It represents the opportunity to generate more value per hectare in less time, strengthening the entire black watle value chain — from the forest to the end customer.

Source: Dr. Rafael Henrique Martins (Forestry Engineer, Master in Forest Sciences and PhD in Forest Resources.)

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