The Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding

What The Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding does

The Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding (IFGTB) is a national forestry research institute established in April 1988 under the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), an autonomous body of India's Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The institute traces its origins to the 1959 Regional Research Centre in Coimbatore and was reorganized into IFGTB as part of a government consolidation of forestry research. Headquartered in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, IFGTB serves as the regional research center for Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep. The institute operates with 179 sanctioned positions, including 27 scientists across Scientist B to G grades, 48 research and technical support staff, 37 administrative staff, and 28 multi-tasking staff, with additional officers on deputation.

IFGTB's core technology portfolio spans forest genetics, tree breeding, plant biotechnology, genomics, molecular genetics, tissue culture, silviculture, bioprospecting, and forest protection, organized across eight research divisions. The flagship output is 25 high-yielding Casuarina and Eucalyptus clones delivering 40% average genetic gain over unimproved seedlings, five of which are registered under India's Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights (PPV&FR) Act. Additional proprietary assets include tissue culture protocols for teak, bamboo, eucalypts, neem, and mahogany; bioproduct formulations (biopesticides Vilvekam, Hy-Act, Tree PALH, Simca BC, Ento-fight NaSa; bioboosters Tree Rich Biobooster and Vermico-IPM; natural colourant Tara Red; and biofertilizers Frankia, Tricho K, and Mona-20); and the EugGalLure volatile composition for gall wasp control (patent pending). Underlying biological assets include a 30-hectare germplasm collection, the Fischer Herbarium holding 26,000+ specimens across 3,898 species, the IGBAAS in silico gene bank for abiotic stress tolerance, and CRISPR/Cas9 mediated transgenic Eucalyptus platforms.

IFGTB's revenue model is anchored by ICFRE government funding, supplemented by one-time technology licensing fees (Rs. 35 lakh per licensee, paid by seven paper industry licensees), direct nursery sales of quality planting stock from a 5 lakh plant annual capacity model nursery, training programs for Indian Forest Service officers and state forest department staff, and consultancy services. Go-to-market occurs through Van Vigyan Kendras (VVKs) in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands; the annual Tree Growers Mela since 2009; Demo Villages; the newly inaugurated Technology Demonstration Centre (May 2026); and direct licensing to industry partners including TNPL, International Paper APPM, Ballarpur Industries, JK Papers, West Coast Papers, and Ambiply Industries. The institute holds unique statutory designations including DUS Centre status under PPV&FR Act for Casuarina, Melia dubia, and Sandal, National Repository recognition for the Fischer Herbarium under the Biological Diversity Act, and Centre of Excellence designation from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

Name

The Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding

Legal name

Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding

Website

https://ifgtb.icfre.gov.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

The Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding (IFGTB) is a government forestry research institute under ICFRE in Coimbatore, India, developing genetically improved tree clones, bioproducts, and tissue culture protocols for state forest departments, paper industries, and farmers across southern India.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Forestry Research and Tree Breeding Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (1153), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Forest Nurseries and Gathering of Forest Products (11321)

SIC

Forestry (800), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Forest Nurseries, Seed Orchards & Genetic Improvement (AFAMAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Seed Testing, Treatment & Certification Services (AFAMADAI), Monitoring, Survival Surveys & Carbon/MRV Services (Remote Sensing, Field Audits) (AFAMACAO), Improved Forest Management (IFM) (EUABABAB)

Keywords

• Forestry research
• Tree breeding
• Forest genetics
• Bioprospecting services
• Silviculture research

Headquarters

HQ city

Coimbatore

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government funding: Core funding from Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) under Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Government of India. Budget for research activities, salaries, and infrastructure.
2. Sale of planting materials and products: Revenue from sale of quality seedlings, seeds, and planting stock from model nursery. Also includes sale of teak wood handicraft products and bioproducts like Tara Red Jam, herbal sanitizer.
3. Technology licensing: Non-exclusive licenses granted to paper industries and nurseries for commercial use of registered clones. Rs.35,00,000 one-time license fee collected from seven licensees for Casuarina and Eucalyptus clones.
4. Training and consultancy services: Revenue from customized training programs, seminars, workshops for IFS officers, forest department staff, KVK scientists, and other stakeholders. Consultancy services to wood-based industries.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

IFGTB is a national forestry research institute that develops genetically improved high-yielding tree clones (Casuarina, Eucalyptus), biopesticides, biofertilizers, natural colourants, and tissue culture protocols. It supplies quality planting stock from its model nursery, licenses proprietary clones to wood-based industries, and provides training, consultancy, seed testing, soil/water analysis, and GIS/remote sensing services. The institute operates under ICFRE and serves southern Indian states with research, technology transfer, and capacity building.

Product overview

The Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding (IFGTB) operates as a national forestry research institute under ICFRE, offering a diverse portfolio of research-based products and services. The core offerings include genetically improved tree clones (high-yielding Casuarina and Eucalyptus varieties with 40% genetic gain), biopesticides (Vilvekam, Hy-Act, Ento-fight NaSa), bioboosters (Tree Rich Biobooster), and natural colourants (Tara Red). Supporting services include tissue culture protocols, seed testing and certification, soil and water analysis, GIS/remote sensing, and consultancy services. Technology dissemination occurs through Van Vigyan Kendras (VVK), the TreeGenie digital platform with mobile apps (CYCUS, Wood Yield Calculator), and the newly inaugurated Technology Demonstration Centre. Research databases like IGBAAS support advanced genomics work.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• High-Yielding Clones (Casuarina and Eucalyptus) Genetically improved clonal varieties of Casuarina and Eucalyptus developed through tree breeding programs, offering 40% average genetic gain over seedlings. Includes windbreak clones for farmland protection. Licensed to paper industries and nurseries for commercial propagation.
• Biopesticides Eco-friendly biopesticide formulations including Vilvekam (Bael seed oil), Hy-Act (Hydnocarpus), Tree PALH, Simca BC (Simarouba), Ento-fight NaSa (Nigrospora sphaerica), and Crawl Clean (botanical mix). Targeted at forestry pest management.
• Bioboosters and Biofertilizers Tree Rich Biobooster (organic biomass-based), Vermico-IPM (instant organic potting mixture), Frankia biofertilizer for Casuarina, Tricho K for disease control, and Mona-20 for bacterial wilt management. Delivers 30-40% growth and biomass enhancement.
• Natural Colourants and Value-Added Products Tara Red (from Tamarindus indica), natural extracts from Careya arborea and Eucalyptus, value-added products including patented Tara Red Jam, DYECOP natural dyed masks (90% BFE efficiency), Royalseema Red Sanders Soap, and herbal hand sanitizer.
• EugGalLure Volatile composition product for managing eucalypts invasive gall wasp (Leptocybe invasa). Registered for patent. Designed as an integrated pest management solution for eucalyptus plantations.
• Quality Planting Stock from Model Nursery Annual production of 5 lakh planting stock including windbreak clones, teak, casuarinas, bamboo, and mahogany seedlings from the Coimbatore model nursery. Rate list publicly disclosed with monthly updated availability.
• GIS and Remote Sensing Services Geomatics lab services including biodiversity characterization, vegetation change detection, forest cover assessment, carbon pool assessment, and mangrove mapping using ERDAS Imagine, ArcGIS, and ArcView software.
• Soil and Water Analysis Services Laboratory analysis for physical and chemical soil parameters including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and micronutrients using Atomic Absorption spectrophotometer. Available to farmers, researchers, and industries.
• Tissue Culture Protocols and Micropropagation Services Micropropagation protocols for teak, bamboo, eucalypts, phyllodenous acacia, neem, mahogany, and other commercially important forestry species. Large-scale production of quality planting material through tissue culture methods.
• Seed Testing and Certification Services Seed certification services including purity, viability, vigour testing, X-ray radiographic analysis, and seed processing facilities for forestry seed quality assurance.
• Consultancy Services Environmental Impact Assessment studies, CAMPA monitoring and evaluation, biodiversity conservation projects, and collaborative research with State Forest Departments and industries.
• Oil Testing Services Oil estimation, physico-chemical parameter analysis, and biochemical studies for seed physiological studies of forestry species.
• CYCUS Mobile App (Casuarina Yield Calculating Utility Software) Mobile application for yield estimation in Casuarina plantations. Available on Google Play Store for farmers and forest managers.
• Wood Yield Calculator Mobile App Mobile application for yield estimation in Melia dubia plantations. Available on Google Play Store for farmers and forest managers.
• Forest Disease Management Mobile App Mobile application for forest disease management in nurseries and plantations, available in regional Tamil language for local farmers and forest staff.
• Training and Capacity Building Programs Customized training programs and seminars for IFS officers, forest department staff, KVK scientists, eco-club teachers, and other stakeholders on topics including nursery management, clonal technology, agroforestry, Forest Genetic Resource Management, REDD+, and invasive species management.
• Bio Bacillin (Bio-control and Bio-booster Product) Bio-control and bio-booster product (Bacillus valezensis) developed for bacterial wilt disease control in Casuarina clones. Released commercially during Tree Growers Mela 2020.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40% genetic gain in released Casuarina and Eucalyptus clones over unimproved seedlings
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 1988Parent organization - autonomous council under Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India. IFGTB is one of 10 institutes under ICFRE. ICFRE provides institutional framework, funding, and policy direction for forestry research.
• Australian Tree Seed Centre, CSIRO, AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing international collaboration since 1995 for tree improvement programs. Second generation breeding populations established with CSIRO collaboration. New Eucalyptus mallees species introduced for arid conditions. Provenance trials of Acacia mangium deployed.
• Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Paper Limited (TNPL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork project partner for Casuarina and Leucaena genetic improvement. Joint clonal trials established. Eucalyptus hybrid clonal trial conducted. Licensee for high-yielding clones.
• Indian Paper Manufacturers Association (IPMA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork project coordination through cess funding from Government of India. Five paper industries (TNPL, APPM, Ballarpur, JK Papers, West Coast) coordinated by IFGTB for pulpwood species improvement.
• Bharathiar University, CoimbatoremajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFGTB affiliated to Bharathiar University for PhD degree programmes. Full-time and part-time PhD programs in Forestry, Forest Genetics, Forest Botany, Biotechnology, and related disciplines.
• Forest Research Institute (Deemed to be) University, DehradunmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFGTB is Nodal centre of FRI Deemed University. Offers PhD degree programmes in collaboration with FRI University in multiple forestry disciplines.
• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUN agency collaboration for forestry research and FAO-UNDP Consultancy projects. Facilitated farmers to establish agroforestry plantations through FAO-supported programs.
• Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), FrancemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational collaboration for Casuarina research and genetic transformation studies. Post-doctoral researchers hosted through CV Raman fellowship. Joint research on symbiotic genes in actinorhizal trees.
• University of Wisconsin-Madison, USAmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration through USIEF for developing diagnostic methods and analyzing incorporation of monolignol ferulates into transgenic poplars for improved pulping performance.
• University of Osnabrück, GermanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDAAD PhD Sandwich Programme collaboration. CSIR-PhD Fellow Mrs Sowmiya Rani conducted research at the university (Dec 2014 to March 2016).
• Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF), AustraliaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational collaboration for tree improvement research and germplasm exchange.
• Kasetsart University, ThailandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational academic collaboration for sustained research in tree genetics and breeding.
• University of Hawaii, USAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for tree genetics research and breeding collaboration.
• Research Institute for Tropical Forestry, ChinaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research collaboration for tropical tree genetics and breeding.
• Biotech Consortium of India Ltd (BCIL), New DelhimajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCommercialization partner for RNA isolation technology and other biotechnologies developed by IFGTB under 'Commercialization of Technologies' program.
• Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU for student-scientist connect programme 'PRAKRITI' for awareness, education, and extension activities with Kendriya Vidyalaya schools.
• National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), ChennaimajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding for training programs on Biological Diversity Act, 2002 for officials of various line departments.
• Tamil Nadu Forest DepartmentcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCollaborative field trials of Casuarina and Eucalyptus clones. VVK established at Forest Campus, Coimbatore. Joint research projects and technology demonstration.
• Kerala Forest DepartmentcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVVK established at Kuthiran, Thrissur. Collaborative research on teak populations, mangrove conservation, and species recovery programs.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• CSIRO (Australian Tree Seed Centre): Australia's national science agency with a dedicated tree seed and breeding program. IFGTB has a long-standing collaboration with CSIRO's Australian Tree Seed Centre since 1995 for Eucalyptus improvement. Comparable as a research partner/peer on provenance trials, breeding populations, and germplasm exchange for plantation species.

Regional players

• Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore: Major state agricultural university headquartered in the same city as IFGTB. Comparable as a regional research and extension organization with overlapping mandates in plant breeding, biotechnology, farmer outreach, and PhD programmes — though focused on crops rather than forestry species.
• Embrapa Forestry (Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation): Brazilian public forestry research unit specializing in Eucalyptus and Pinus breeding for plantation forestry. Highly comparable technically on clonal forestry, pulpwood improvement, and biotech, but operates in a different geography and serves Brazil's plantation industry rather than India's.

Direct peers

• Forest Research Institute (FRI), Dehradun: Premier Indian forestry research university and ICFRE institute. IFGTB functions as a Nodal centre of FRI Deemed University for PhD programmes, making FRI both a parent academic peer and the most comparable counterpart in terms of forestry research mandate, scientific cadre, and training offerings.
• Rain Forest Research Institute (RFRI), Jorhat: ICFRE institute covering northeast India's rainforests. Comparable as a sister ICFRE research institute with similar mandate structure (forest genetics, biodiversity, silviculture) but focused on tropical rainforest species rather than IFGTB's plantation species.
• Indian Institute of Wood Science and Technology (IWST), Bengaluru: Sibling ICFRE institute focused on wood science, pulp & paper research, and wood-based industries technology. Directly comparable to IFGTB on the industrial-clone and wood-property side, with overlapping licensee base in the pulp & paper industry.
• Tropical Forest Research Institute (TFRI), Jabalpur: ICFRE institute covering central India's tropical forests. Comparable peer institute with overlapping research divisions in genetics, biotechnology, silviculture, and forest protection, and a similar extension network for technology dissemination.
• Arid Forest Research Institute (AFRI), Jodhpur: ICFRE institute focused on forestry in arid and semi-arid regions. Directly comparable as a peer ICFRE research institute with the same institutional structure, government funding model, and tree-improvement mandate, but operating in a different agro-climatic zone.

Broad incumbents

• CIRAD (French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development): French public research organization working on tropical forestry, tree genetics, and agroforestry. Comparable as a government-funded international forestry research body with similar thematic focus on tropical tree improvement and germplasm management.
• World Agroforestry (ICRAF): International CGIAR research centre focused on agroforestry, tree genetic resources, and climate-smart landscapes. Comparable as a global forestry/agroforestry research organization with overlapping interests in tree breeding, germplasm conservation, and farmer-facing technology dissemination.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IFGTBICFRE1
• Facebookfacebook.com/ifgtb.coimbatore.9

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding