RPBC is the culmination of the efforts of many wonderful people and organisations, working together over a long period of time. For a short history of radiata pine breeding in New Zealand, consider this:

1859

First importations of radiata pine seed from California.

1950

First 'plus-trees' selected in existing NZ radiata pine plantations, with an emphasis on growth rate, stem form and uniform branching habit.

1958

First clonal seed orchard planted for production of seed from the cloned plus-trees.

1968

First seed orchard seed collected and used for plantation establishment.

1982

Recognition and introduction of Dothistroma resistance as a breeding goal.

1985

Seed orchard supply became sufficient to meet plantation demand.

1986

Control-pollinated seed orchard established at Amberley.

1986

Publication of the 'Development Plan for Radiata Pine Breeding' which first described an overall radiata pine breeding strategy.

1987

Initiation of the Seed Certification Scheme, which introduced the GF and subsequent GF Plus™ schemes to the forestry sector.

1988

NZ Radiata Pine Breeding Cooperative formed, with combined industry and government funding support.

1990

Recognition and inclusion of wood property improvement in the breeding programme.

2002

Radiata Pine Breeding Company formed, providing the benefits of being a legal entity, with grower and seed producer shareholders.

2005

Clonal forestry based on somatic embryogenesis and cryopreservation of tissue becomes a commercial option.

2013

First clonal tests of forward selections established.

2014

Genomic Selection R&D partnership commenced.

2018

Publication of the 'RPBC Genetic and Deployment Strategy', with implementation ongoing.

2019

RPBC and Scion successfully develop the first commercially viable SNP chip for radiata pine