The project, initiated in the fall of 2024, aims to accelerate the commercialization of the OptiBoost technology in the South African market. OptiCept has conducted tests with the majority of the eight participating customers and has now received interim results from the largest of these clients. So far, the results are considered very positive and beyond expectations.

“These are excellent results and everything we could have hoped for at this stage of the project. We have continuously refined the method and learned a great deal since its launch. We have also engaged local experts who, in collaboration with our staff, work closely with the customers. Altogether, this allows us to accelerate progress toward commercial agreements,” says Thomas Lundqvist, CEO of OptiCept Technologies.

Among the participating companies is Mondi Group, with which OptiCept has previously collaborated. Mondi is a multinational packaging and paper company, recognized as a global leader in its field and listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and London Stock Exchange. Mondi plants around 20 million cuttings annually.

Another participant is Sappi, a leading global supplier of wood fiber-based products. Sappi has 11,600 employees worldwide and operates manufacturing facilities on three continents (eight in Western Europe, four in North America, and five in Southern Africa). Sappi plants approximately 27 million cuttings annually.

Other companies involved in the project include Sutherland Seedlings, Ezigro, Du Roi Multiplant, York Timbers, CPS Seedlings, and TWK Agri, collectively producing over 33 million cuttings annually.

The South African forestry sector (forestry and forest products) is globally prominent and therefore represents an important market for OptiCept. The country currently has approximately 1.2 million hectares of cultivated forest, primarily eucalyptus and pine, as well as acacia.

With the OptiBoost technology, OptiCept aims to enhance efficiency within the forestry industry. By increasing rooting rates with the patented vacuum impregnation technology, more cuttings can be rooted, allowing more trees to be planted and delivering greater returns for the industry.