Our ambition is to develop proprietary Paulownia hybrids that combine exceptional growth with measurable value for climate, forestry and industry. Through a newly established Memorandum of Understanding with leading scientists in plant genetics, tree breeding and biotechnology, our programme is moving beyond conventional selection towards precision breeding and advanced genome-editing research.
 

The starting point is the identification of outstanding and unique characteristics within our Paulownia material: high biomass production, strong carbon capture potential, superior wood properties, resilience and reliable field performance. Conventional hybridisation remains essential for combining these traits, but it can take many years to stabilise the most promising results.

Our scientific collaboration will give us the capacity to investigate how targeted genome-editing tools, including CRISPR, may help fix and stabilise valuable traits more precisely and efficiently. This can create a new generation of Paulownia hybrids designed for specific end uses: fast-growing trees for carbon and biomass projects, high-quality timber with more consistent wood characteristics, and robust planting material for demanding growing conditions. Research in woody crops already shows that precision genome editing can influence wood composition, growth-related traits and resilience, offering an important route towards more productive and climate-ready trees.
 

Our objective is not simply to create faster-growing trees. It is to build a scientifically validated Paulownia portfolio with distinct, stable and high-performing genetics—capable of increasing biomass production, supporting long-term carbon storage, improving wood quality and creating greater value throughout the supply chain.

Any development and commercial deployment will be carried out responsibly, with field validation and in accordance with the applicable European regulatory framework.