Toyota to Build Biotechnology & Afforestation Lab

Tokyo―TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) will procure land and construct a laboratory to intensify research and development in biotechnology and afforestation operations. The facility will be located in Miyoshi-cho, Aichi Prefecture.

In June of this year, TMC has added to its business goals the production, processing and sales of agricultural and wood products through the application of biotechnology. TMC has concurrently promoted the organization of a system and the realization of actual operations to achieve these goals. One example of TMC's efforts in this field is Australian Afforestation Pty. Ltd., which was established in August in cooperation with Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. and Mitsui & Co., Ltd. The Melbourne-based sustained development venture plans to raise several thousand hectares of eucalyptus trees for eventual harvesting and processing into paper. Toyota expects projects utilizing biotechnology and afforestation technology in this fashion to increase as the world moves to tackle environmental issues and food supply problems.
In preparation, TMC created a Biotechnology & Afforestation Business Department within its Business Development Division in January of this year.

With the construction of the new laboratory, TMC will be able to consolidate its existing specialist staff and facilities in one location, as well as strengthen its research and development in this area. The ultimate goal is to further expand existing technology and know-how, and to promote the development of related operations.