Carter Holt Harvey (CHH) and Rubicon today announced the merging of their existing forestry biotechnology and propagation operations into a new venture - Horizon2. Horizon2 brings together New Zealand’s two leading forestry nursery and biotechnology programmes - CHH Forest Genetics and Rubicon’s Trees & Technology.

Through Horizon2, New Zealand and Australian forest owners will have access to world-class genetics and plant propagation technologies.

“With the forestry industry becoming increasingly fragmented there are some areas where capability consolidation is imperative to maintain and develop international competitiveness,” says Devon McLean, CHH Chief Operating Officer. “This exciting ‘industry-first’ partnership will lead the development of superior radiata pine tree stocks internationally.”

“Both Rubicon’s Trees & Technology and CHH’s Forest Genetics businesses have been pioneers in biotechnology techniques to improve growth rates and wood quality. Bringing these two businesses together now will allow the development of one integrated programme, which will bring with it all of the advantages that come from the pooling of scientific knowledge, people resource, and funding,” says Rubicon CEO Luke Moriarty.

The creation of Horizon2 will accelerate the availability of improved tree stocks and improve the value of customers’ forests through their planting of superior quality tree stocks that better match the needs of their end-user.

Horizon2 will offer customers all the traditional benefits of treestock supply through industry-best nursery techniques. As well, the combined resources and expertise of the two programmes will enable Horizon2 to offer an expanded range of treestock products and services to its customers – assisting decision making about where and what to plant, whether it be for structural, appearance, or engineered wood end uses.

Horizon2 will be structured as a 50:50 partnership, headquartered at Te Teko in the Bay of Plenty, and led by Chief Executive Andrew Rodwell (currently the General Manager of Trees & Technology). It will operate New Zealand nursery facilities in Kaikohe, Rotorua, Tokoroa, Te Teko and Nelson, and a nursery facility in Australia. Future plans include a market presence in Chile.

“Combining the talents of two world class forestry biotechnology businesses is very exciting, not just for the owners, but for the forestry industry customers who will benefit from Horizon2’s enhanced ability to add value to forests through the application of leading edge technologies,” says Horizon2 Chief Executive Andrew Rodwell.