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About Clonar

Research and development in forest health in Viçosa

For 15 years, Clonar has served forestry companies with disease-resistance phenotyping, applied research and the development of improved genetic material: disease-resistant, more productive clones.

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Prof. Acelino Couto Alfenas, arms crossed, on a lawn
Prof. Acelino Couto Alfenas

Scientific leadership

Prof. Acelino Couto Alfenas

Managing Partner of Clonar and professor at the Federal University of Viçosa. His work covers forest pathology and genetic resistance to eucalyptus diseases.

  • EducationMSc in Plant Pathology, PhD in Forest Pathology
  • AcademyFull Member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences · elected in 2017, inducted in 2018
  • AwardsMore than 20 merit awards in technology development, including the Funarbe Research Recognition Award (2019)
  • HighlightNamed one of the world's top scientists in Plant Science and Agronomy
  • TeachingFaculty member in 4 of the 9 AgroPós graduate programs
  • ProfilesLattes · Google Scholar · ORCID
Davi Mesquita
Davi Mesquita

Agronomist, PhD in Plant Pathology. Technical Lead for phenotyping and applied research.

Clonar's technical team in the laboratory names, positions and education of the team members

Plant pathology

Diagnosis, isolation and resistance assessment for forest diseases.

Genetic improvement

Clone selection and design of breeding programs.

Forest engineering

Management, inventory and field trials.

Agronomy

Soils, plant nutrition and plantlet production.

Timeline

Documented milestones

From graduation at the UFV incubator to the current clients, which together account for more than 60% of Brazil's planted area. The milestones from 2017 to 2019 are recorded in the news published by Clonar.

~2011
  • FoundedTechnology-based company graduated from the CenTev/UFV incubator in Viçosa
2017
  • AugustClonar research selected for a Fapemig event
  • AugustPartnership with Grupo Unis for online lato sensu graduate programs
  • SeptemberDisease-resistant elite eucalyptus clones presented at Inova Minas Gerais
  • NovemberNew Zealand's Ambassador visits Clonar; University of Kentucky seeks a partnership
  • DecemberProf. Acelino Alfenas elected to the Brazilian Academy of Sciences
2018
  • JanuaryPartnership with Cientec begins
  • MarchEucalyptus project in Alagoas featured in the press
  • JuneClonar and Fibria strengthen their partnership on disease-resistant clones
  • JulyCourse on Clonal Propagation of Tree and Ornamental Plants
  • DecemberVisit by a group from Lincoln University, New Zealand
2019
  • AprilClonar strengthens its partnership with New Zealand
  • AugustProf. Alfenas honored at the XXXI CTGMF Technical Meeting
  • OctoberFunarbe Research Recognition Award
  • NovemberCourse on Genetic Resistance to Forest Diseases at Clonar
2026
  • Today2,234 isolates in the collection and seven diseases assessed
  • TodayClients that together account for more than 60% of Brazil's planted area, and projects in more than 10 countries

Triple helix of innovation

Industry, academia and funding in the same project

In Clonar's projects, forestry companies bring the problem, the university contributes the method and the funding can be shared with funding agencies.

  • Industry: pulp, paper, timber and charcoal companies in Brazil and abroad.
  • Academia: UFV, with international research cooperation.
  • Funding: CNPq and Fapemig, as well as Embrapii and BNDES.

Partnerships and funding

Research and funding partners

IN BRAZIL

Institutions and funding

UFV universityCenTev incubatorCNPq fundingFapemig fundingEmbrapii fundingBNDES funding

Client companies are named, and their logos shown, only with their authorization.

ABROAD

Documented international cooperation

  • New ZealandEmbassy (2017), Lincoln University (2018 and 2019) and kiwifruit growers (2019)
  • United StatesUniversity of Kentucky (2017)
  • AustraliaVisit by Professor Adam Sparks (2019)
  • Costa RicaVisit by Costa Rican researchers (2019)

Projects completed in more than 10 countries.

Facilities

Research facilities in Viçosa

Plant pathology laboratory, greenhouses, nursery and experimental field at the same site.

Aerial view of Clonar's facilities with the shed, production nursery, laboratory and greenhouses numbered
Aerial view · Viçosa (MG)
  1. ShedSupport for nursery and trial operations.
  2. Production nurseryProduction of clonal plantlets.
  3. LaboratoryIsolation, identification and preservation of pathogens, inoculum preparation and sample assessment.
  4. GreenhousesInoculation trials under controlled conditions, clonal mini-garden and plantlet growth.
Clonar's greenhouses seen from above
Greenhouses
Researcher at the microscope in the laboratory
Laboratory · microscopy
Researchers at the laboratory bench
Laboratory · sample preparation
Inoculated plantlets under assessment
Inoculation trial
Trial room with plants under assessment
Trial room
Technicians in the clonal mini-garden
Clonal mini-garden
Propagation trays
Propagation
Plantlets in the nursery
Nursery

Next step

Visits to the laboratory and greenhouses

Conversations with the technical team and visits to Clonar's facilities in Viçosa can be scheduled through the contact form or by email.

Talk to the technical team See publications and news

or write to comercialclonar@gmail.com

Talk to the technical team