Social responsibility for climate-resilient forests: Hechenbichler strengthens Tyrolean forest plants with biostimulants
As part of the Corporate Social Responsibility project “Biostimulants for Forest Nurseries”, Hechenbichler GmbH, based in Innsbruck, is supporting regional forestry. The long-established Tyrolean company is providing AMALGEROL products to the Tyrolean state forest nurseries free of charge and is accompanying their application together with the Province of Tyrol and the Austrian Federal Research and Training Centre for Forests from a technical and scientific perspective.
“The forest needs our support, and the foundations for the resilience of a tree that may live for 100 years are established in the very first years of its development. By applying different AMALGEROL products already to seeds and young forest plants, we are deliberately targeting these early development stages: improved root formation, regulated growth and more vital plants can lead to greater resilience against drought, windthrow, pests and other environmental stresses,” says Dr Silvia Fluch, Head of Research and Development at Hechenbichler, summarising the expected results.
The project focuses on the Tyrolean state forest nurseries at their sites in Stams, Bad Häring and Nikolsdorf. These nurseries grow forest plants for the reforestation of protective forests that have been lost in recent years due to forest fires and bark beetle infestation. Especially in alpine regions, resilient planting material is crucial to ensure that forests remain functional and climate-resilient in the long term. The project uses a product combination of AMALGEROL ESSENCE, AMALGEROL SEED and AMALGEROL CARBO.
“Any future large-scale support for stressed forests must be practical and applicable in real-world conditions. That is exactly what makes biostimulants so interesting for this use case,” explains Fluch. “With AMALGEROL, we give seeds and young plants the necessary impulses for a healthy, strong and resilient life from the very beginning. It is also possible to treat existing stressed forest areas directly using drones. Biostimulants are not fertilisers; rather, they are a natural form of support that helps plants help themselves.”
For Hechenbichler, the project is also about regional responsibility, as Managing Director Dr Hanspeter Hueter emphasises: “As a long-standing partner of modern agriculture, it is a matter of course for us to contribute our knowledge and our biostimulant expertise in other areas as well, in order to effectively address the challenges our environment is facing. Forests protect, store water, safeguard biodiversity and shape our landscape. With biostimulants, we can support these functions in a natural way — with nature, for nature.”
About Biostimulants
Biostims are innovative preparations that naturally enhance plant growth, increase resistance to stress factors such as drought or heat, and improve nutrient efficiency. Unlike fertilizers or pesticides, biostimulants do not act directly on soil or pests but instead activate biological processes within the plant and soil. They are considered a key technology for sustainable, resource-efficient, and productive agriculture – and represent a rapidly growing market with enormous potential.
About Hechenbichler
Hechenbichler is one of the leading companies in the field of biostims and actively contributes to shaping the agriculture of tomorrow. For more than 75 years, the Tyrolean company has been developing products that improve soil quality, strengthen plants, and support animal health – tested and proven in over 40 countries worldwide. Production takes place within the EU under the highest quality and environmental standards. Customers value the efficiency of the products as well as the technical expertise and personal support that come with them.
About AMALGEROL
AMALGEROL is Hechenbichler’s flagship product in the biostims segment – tested, refined, and continuously developed over decades. As an EU-certified biostimulant, AMALGEROL stands for natural efficacy, reliability, and progress. The experience and know-how gained from AMALGEROL form the foundation for new product lines and application areas currently under development at Hechenbichler. The success story continues: Biostims. Our path forward.
More information:
hechenbichler.com
Contact information
Marco Neher, M.A., MBA
+43 664 9982134
marco.neher@hechenbichler.com