New ideas for making the most of Scotland's tree seed

Finding a technological solution to improving the yield from Scotland’s existing seed stock has taken a step forward – with ideas put forward by five companies winning research and development funding.

Announced in July 2019 as part of the Scottish Government’s CivTech® 4.0 ‘Innovation Challenge’, Forestry and Land Scotland invited individuals, businesses, universities and stakeholders to consider ways of meeting the challenges of growing more young trees from seed.

Maximising the yield from Scottish tree seed will boost tree planting in future years, boost the rural economy and significantly strengthen Scotland’s contribution to tackling the climate emergency.

Josh Roberts, for Forestry and Land Scotland, said;

“The demand for young trees in Scotland in 2019 has more than doubled in the past decade and we need to double it again within five years in order to meet Scotland’s climate change action plan commitments. Unfortunately, only around one third of collected seeds go on to produce young trees.

“The five successful companies selected for the next phase of the Innovation Challenge have put forward strong ideas for systems or processes that could help combat seed losses to predation, weed competition, drought or simply a failure to germinate.

“With the benefit of support from CivTech® and the ‘Can Do’ fund, they will now develop those ideas further with a view to ultimately developing a solution that will benefit both public and private sector tree nurseries.”

The potential solutions being developed are:

Elsom seeds – applying knowledge of seed disinfection and priming technology to develop a range of pre-sowing treatments aimed at inducing rapid, uniform germination and promoting seed vigour.
Forestart - designing matting that ensures seeds are laid with the ideal spacing, suppresses weed growth and ensures additives such as fertilisers are delivered directly to the seedlings while germinating.
SilviBio – developing seed coating technologies that will retain moisture close to the seed and allow controlled delivery of vital nutrients and active ingredients, resulting in improved seedling emergence and survival.
Forest Research / Delta Seeds – developing an automated image analysis platform and simple diagnostic test kit to deliver a seed vigour index and improve seed germination.
Cumbria Tree Growers - adapting technological developments from vegetable production for major forestry tree species – planting tree seedlings produced under glass in a unique chain pot system ensuring sowing in optimum conditions.

As well as benefiting the UK’s nursery sector, a proven solution could also find potential markets in other countries that practice a style of forestry similar to the UK – such as Norway, Sweden, France, Denmark, the Netherlands and Canada.

Under the current ‘accelerator’ phase of the challenge each company now receives £20,000 +VAT to cover the costs of five months of laboratory or workshop testing to create a prototype. The prototypes that show the most potential to become a viable product will then be awarded contracts to carry out the more extensive field testing required to bring the product to market, with funding available for up to three years if necessary.

Led by Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) the project is being partnered by Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Government and the Scottish Funding Council.

Notes to editors

Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) manages forests and land owned by Scottish Minsters in a way that supports and enables economically sustainable forestry; conserves and enhances the environment; delivers benefits for people and nature; and supports Scottish Ministers in their role as leaders of Sustainable Forest Management and Sustainable Development through their stewardship of Scotland's national forests and land.
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Media enquiries to Paul Munro, Media Manager, Forestry and Land Scotland Media Office 0131 370 5059 or paul.munro@forestryandland.gov.scot