What FGR Research Ltd. does

Forest Growers Research Ltd. (FGR) is a New Zealand-incorporated, sector-owned forestry research management organisation headquartered in Rotorua. It coordinates and funds research and innovation across the entire New Zealand forestry value chain — from seed (Tissue Culture Partnership) and nursery (Precision Silviculture Programme) through silviculture, harvesting (Automation & Robotics Programme), processing, and product. FGR also operates adjacent programmes in species diversification (Specialty Species), forest health and biosecurity (Resilient Forests, including red needle cast modelling and Phytophthora research), wildfire mitigation (Extreme Wildfire), and tree root microbiome.

FGR delivers its mission through a portfolio of public-good digital tools — species-specific growth calculators (Forecaster, Cypress, Fastigata, Kauri, Redwood), the Red Needle Cast Regional Risk Forecasting Tool, the Multi Species Carbon Calculator, the Multi Species Dashboard, the UoC Decision Support Model, the TreeFarmer Application, the Woodlot Analysis Tool, TreeTools (LiDAR/RGB thinning assessment) and PlantIT (supply chain tree tracking) — as well as commercialised hardware technologies including automated log load securing systems, augmented reality maintenance training tools, teleoperated anchor machines, and AI-based seedling grading. Multiple products embed AI/ML: BioScout pathogen detection (computer vision), DEEPLAI Log ID (provenance tracking), CAN bus machine activity classification (>95% accuracy), and laser scanning phenotyping.

FGR is not a commercial software vendor; it is a not-for-profit research coordinator. It is funded primarily through the statutory Harvested Wood Material Commodity Levy (approximately $10 million per annum at 33-45 cents per tonne, renewed in 2024 for 2026-2031 with 99.63% support by hectare), with leveraged co-funding from the Ministry for Primary Industries (notably a 9-year $22.2M Automation & Robotics Primary Growth Partnership), in-kind industry contributions, and direct forestry company funding. Customers are essentially all New Zealand forest owners and the broader forestry value chain participants (contractors, managers, equipment manufacturers, government agencies). FGR leverages $2.50 in co-funding for every levy dollar invested and is governed by a board chaired by Jason Syme since January 2025.

Name

FGR Research Ltd.

Legal name

Forest Growers Research Limited

Website

https://fgr.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Forest Growers Research is a New Zealand not-for-profit research organisation that coordinates and funds forestry R&D across the value chain, delivering digital tools, automation technologies, and AI-enabled innovations to forest owners via the statutory Harvested Wood Material Commodity Levy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Forestry Research and Innovation Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (1153), Support Activities for Forestry (11531), Support Activities for Forestry (115310)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Forest Management & Silviculture Services (Cruising, Planning, Compliance) (IMAMAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Forest Health Management (Pest, Disease & Invasive Species Control) (AFAMAAAE), Forest Seed Orchards & Breeding Programs (AFAMADAB), Regeneration & Reforestation Operations (Site Prep, Planting, Seeding) (AFAMAAAC)

Keywords

• Forestry research services
• Harvesting automation
• Precision silviculture
• Forest health research
• Tree tracking platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Rotorua

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Harvested Wood Material (HWM) Commodity Levy: Primary funding source from a levy paid on each tonne of harvested timber by forest owners. The levy was renewed in 2024 for a further six years (2026-2031) at a rate band of 33 to 45 cents per tonne. The levy generates approximately $10 million per annum and funds sector representation, research and development, biosecurity, and environmental advocacy.
2. Government Co-funding: Co-funding from government agencies including the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) through Primary Growth Partnership programmes. The Automation & Robotics programme leveraged $6.5M from Forest Growers Levy Trust funds with $9.6M of Government funding, $5.4M in-kind from industry, and $640,000 direct funding from forestry companies.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Forest Growers Research manages and coordinates forestry research and innovation programmes across the New Zealand forestry value chain, from seed and silviculture through harvesting, processing, and specialty species. It also develops and disseminates digital tools (growth calculators, risk forecasting models, tree-tracking platforms, AI-based log identification) and harvesting automation technologies developed under its research programmes.

Product overview

Forest Growers Research (FGR) is a New Zealand research organisation managing forestry research and innovation across the value chain. The company operates multiple research programmes including: Precision Silviculture Programme (mechanised planting, precision spraying, seedling grading, tree tracking), Harvesting Automation & Robotics Programme (automation of cable yarders, teleoperation, log handling), Tissue Culture Partnership, Resilient Forests Programme, Speciality Species Programme, Extreme Wildfire Programme, and Tree Root Microbiome Project. FGR also provides an extensive suite of digital tools including calculators (Forecaster, Cypress, Fastigata, Kauri, Redwood, Multi Species Carbon), dashboards (Multi Species Dashboard), tracking platforms (PlantIT, TreeFarmer Application), and assessment tools (TreeTools, Woodlot Analysis Tool, Red Needle Cast Regional Risk Forecasting Tool, UoC Decision Support Model). The research programmes develop products and technologies including augmented reality training tools, automated log load securing systems, VR thinning training, and various harvesting automation technologies that are commercialised with industry partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Precision Silviculture Programme

Quantifiable outcome

• $5.00 per cubic metre projected savings in harvesting costs from automation and value-chain efficiencies from 2030
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability9 records

Feature13 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ScioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary research provider and co-developer across multiple FGR programmes including Resilient Forests (phytophthora research, RNC modelling, autonomous measurement), Precision Silviculture (drone spraying, laser scanning), and Harvesting Automation (augmented reality training, human factors research). Scion's Bioeconomy Science Institute collaborates on the Automation & Robotics programme.
• University of Canterbury School of ForestrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey academic partner providing research capacity, student interns, and professional development courses. Hosts forest engineering workshops and collaborates on the Automation & Robotics programme, phenotyping research, and forestry mechanisation studies. Also partner in Specialty Wood Products research.
• DEEPLAI LLCcoreTechnology or IntegrationPolish AI software company developing the Automated Log Identification (Log ID) system with FGR. Technology enables unique tamper-proof log marks with real-time geospatial tracking for supply chain provenance and traceability. Part of the Forestry Work in the Modern Age PGP programme led by Keith Raymond.
• Applied Teleoperation Ltd (ATL)coreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology developer for teleoperation systems enabling remote control of tail hold anchor machines and automation of APEX shovel yarders. Partnered with Mana Logging Ltd and AP Plant & Machinery Ltd on the yarder automation project. ATL's innovations have been in commercial use for over five years.
• Pan Pac Forest Products LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor forest company actively collaborating on mechanised planting (PlantMax adaptation), UAV precision spraying trials, shredded wood for roading research, and hosting industry field days. Key industry partner providing operational trial sites for multiple FGR programmes.
• Waratah NZ LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEquipment manufacturer collaborating on augmented reality maintenance training tools for harvesting machines (with Scion and StaplesVR), and hosting international delegations at their Tokoroa facility.
• Timberlands LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerForest management company collaborating on laser scanning phenotyping validation research, hydrogel trials for extending planting season, and mechanised nursery stock lifting trials.
• PF Olsen LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerForest management company trialling the tree box tracking app at Glenbrook Nursery, providing operational testing environment for nursery-to-forest digital tracking technology.
• Oji Fibre SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerForest company collaborating on mechanised planting field days, hosting Plantma Forestry's PlantMax planting machine demonstrations alongside Pan Pac and FGR.
• Integral LimitedcoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology company that developed the PlantIT digital tree tracking and management platform for the forestry supply chain and the tree box tracking app for nurseries, both with support from the FGR Precision Silviculture Programme.
• Trinder Engineers Ltd and Waimea Engineering LtdcoreTechnology or IntegrationManufacturing partners for the automated log load securing system (chain thrower, auto-tensioning winch, load monitoring system), producing components for commercialisation.
• Marlborough Research Centre TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in the Specialty Wood Products Research Partnership, contributing to research on alternative species including cypresses, Douglas-fir, and eucalypts.
• NZ Farm Forestry AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association partner in the Specialty Wood Products Research Partnership, representing small-scale forest growers interested in alternative species.
• Te Uru Rākau - New Zealand Forest ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment forestry agency that is a partner in the Wāhine in Forestry Conference 2026 and provides support through the internship programme with University of Canterbury. Also involved in the Fieldays Forestry Hub.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Skogforsk: Swedish forestry research institute jointly funded by industry and government, focused on mechanisation, genetics, and silviculture. Closest international analogue to FGR's levy-funded research coordination model with a heavy harvesting-automation track record.
• Forest & Wood Products Australia (FWPA): Australian industry-good research and development body funded by statutory levies across the forest products value chain. Mirrors FGR's levy-funded, sector-wide R&D coordination model in a comparable plantation forestry economy.
• Scion: New Zealand crown research institute that is FGR's primary research delivery partner across multiple programmes (Resilient Forests, Precision Silviculture, Harvesting Automation). Both organisations serve the same NZ forestry research mandate and frequently co-publish.

Broad incumbents

• Canadian Wood Fibre Centre: Natural Resources Canada programme delivering fibre, forest operations, and bioeconomy R&D. Operates in a comparable plantation-rich jurisdiction with a public-mandate research focus on harvesting mechanisation and forest productivity.
• Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke): Finnish government research organisation (formerly Metla) covering forestry, agriculture, and bioeconomy. Shares FGR's industry-plus-public funding model with a strong focus on harvesting automation and forest.health research.
• Forest Research (UK): UK's principal forestry and tree-research agency, formerly the Forestry Commission research arm. Provides research and tools to the British forestry sector with a public-good mandate broadly comparable to FGR's.
• Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM): Malaysian statutory research body delivering tropical forestry R&D. Comparable breadth of mandate and government/industry co-funding model, though tropical rather than temperate plantation context.

Others

• Trimble Forestry: Global forestry technology vendor providing harvest planning, GNSS, and forest operations software. Adjacent ecosystem participant rather than a research peer; relevant as a competing technology stack for forest owners who also use FGR tools.

Emerging players

• Radiata Pine Breeding Company (RPBC): New Zealand industry-owned radiata pine breeding and genetics business. Closely aligned with FGR's Tissue Culture and Specialty Species programmes and shares the levy-funded industry-good governance model.
• Interpine Innovation: New Zealand-based forestry technology company (developer of TreeTools, supported by FGR's Precision Silviculture Programme). Overlaps with FGR's LiDAR/thinning assessment tools and serves the same NZ forestry customer base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/forest-growers-research-ltd

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

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about FGR Research Ltd.