The new greenhouse will have a surface area of 690 m² and a volume of approximately 5 850 m³. A birch seed plantation with 48 selected outdoor birch (Betula pendula) seedlings will be established. The greenhouse will be used to grow annual seedlings that are about half a metre tall. Its main task will be to ensure controlled conditions for birch seed production to prevent the pollination of female flowers by pollen of unknown origin and to carry out precisely controlled pollination between selected trees. This approach ensures the maximum breeding effect, producing seeds from which seedlings are produced with higher productivity, better stem quality, and increased adaptability to growing conditions.

Artis Podnieks, Member of the Executive Board of AS Latvijas Finieris, stresses:

“Investing in birch breeding is investing in the forest of the future. Our aim is not just to grow more plants, but to grow better ones – plants that produce higher yields and better quality wood. The new seed greenhouse will significantly increase the precision and efficiency of the breeding work, while at the same time providing Latvijas Finieris’ Zābaki tree nursery with quality birch seed material.”

The development of birch breeding is carried out in close cooperation with the Latvian State Forest Research Institute “Silava”.

Kaspars Liepiņš, Senior Researcher at LSFRI “Silava”, points out:

“Modern forestry is increasingly based on data, long-term observations, and scientifically proven solutions. Breeding is one of the most effective tools for increasing forest productivity and resilience, and the creation of such infrastructure facilities makes it possible to put the knowledge gained from research into practice. Close cooperation between scientific institutions and industry is particularly valuable in ensuring that research results are translated into practice and generate long-term benefits for forest owners and society as a whole.”

Birch is a rewarding tree species for breeding and seed production – birch seed plantations under a film cover start producing as early as the third or fourth year after establishment. The greenhouse can provide optimal environmental conditions for the trees and exclude the pollination of genetically superior trees by unwanted background pollen, as flowering starts earlier than in nature. Currently, there is a shortage of seeds in Latvia and neighbouring countries, which has led to a shortage of birch seedlings. The new seed plantation, which will provide genetically improved birch seed, is much needed by the forest sector and will increase the availability of high-quality birch reproductive material for reforestation and afforestation.

The new greenhouse is scheduled to open in September 2026, when Latvijas Finieris will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Birch Programme. Over three decades, the programme has become one of the most important birch breeding and genetic resource development initiatives in Latvia, contributing to knowledge accumulation, research, and the availability of quality planting material.

The new birch greenhouse will be an important contribution to the next phase of the programme, strengthening Latvia’s capacity to create productive, sustainable, and climate-resilient birch forests.