17 October, 2012
Montes del Plata inaugurates modern nursery in Río Negro employing one hundred local workers
The USD 17 million project can produce 20 million seedlings per year and has excellent working conditions.
Montes del Plata inaugurated its new nursery that can produce up to 20 million seedlings per year. The newly opened nursery is located a few kilometers Fray Bentos in the department of Río Negro.
The 140,000 m2 undertaking confirms Montes del Plata`s commitment to sustainable forestry by incorporating the best forestry production techniques and creating quality jobs in the country`s interior.
The USD 17 million nursery will be operated by a local team made up of 100 skilled people. The nursery has been specifically designed to provide excellent working conditions for employees. Hiring local workers, training and safety are central aspects of the forestry project`s efforts.
The seedlings produced at the Vivero Montes del Plata (Montes del Plata Nursery) will be used in the company`s plantations throughout the country. They will also be used in the fields of the company`s associated producers through its Productive Integration program.
In the context of the inauguration of such a significant project, Erwin Kaufmann, General Manager of Montes del Plata, said that the "nursery is the beginning of the productive chain, the starting point of an operation that will be developed throughout the country, involving over 5,000 workers, promoting a movement that can be seen and felt not only in terms of the country`s overall economy, but also in very small and remote towns in the country."
Kaufmann noted that the construction of this nursery can now be added to the long list of achievements that the company has had in recent years. These include obtaining FSC certification at forestry plantations that will be supplying the mill, completing two-thirds of the construction of the Conchillas mill (where the highest level of employment point has almost been reached) and ing the mill`s operational team, which is currently undergoing training.
The opening of the new nursery was attended by Río Negro Intendant Omar Lafluf, who thanked Montes del Plata for having made this investment "in a department that has grown rapidly," underscoring the impact of this project by creating 100 quality jobs.
Likewise, the municipal authority noted Uruguay`s characteristics in terms of attracting investments. "Uruguay is a credible country where companies enjoy safety and stability. That is our country`s greatest treasure and therefore we must care for it," noted Lafluf.
The Director of the National Forestry Office of the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries, Pedro Soust, also made reference to the positive impact that the sector`s growth has had in terms of job creation. Soust said that forestry production contributes highly significant numbers to GDP. He also indicated that the most significant contribution is the creation of quality jobs within the sector "as can be seen by Montes del Plata`s daily activities."
"Today`s forestry production activities enable the development of the forestry industry, the protection of native forests and an exponential increase of the number of jobs for our country`s men and women," he underscored.
To conclude, Kaufmann noted: "this nursery brings benefits and a sense of pride for everyone. It truly represents our commitment to the development of the country."
A model nursery in the region.
The new nursery was conceived by following Montes del Plata`s sustainability based management policy. In this manner, the use of energy, water and other supplies is optimized. For example, excess irrigation water all production areas is recovered and reintroduced into the cycle.
The nursery`s seedlings are developed in biodegradable containers using the Ellepot system (an innovative methodology introduced to the country by Montes del Plata shareholder Stora Enso in 2008), and has since been developed in Uruguay`s eucalyptus plantations. The technology enables an improved establishment of trees and root systems by facilitating natural root penetration. Furthermore, it significantly reduces the volume of plastic used and eliminates the use of chemical products for disinfection.
The seedling transportation system was designed to reduce the personnel`s physical efforts, thus enabling them to work with greater comfort and in a more enjoyable setting.
The modern nursery has also been designed and equipped to produce two types of eucalyptus plants: by sowing seeds and cloning tress through cuttings.
Each plant`s development may take anywhere 90 to 120 days its creation at the nursery to its transplant in the fields, depending on the season.
The Vivero Montes del Plata has seven sectors: Cloning Garden, Central Depot, Vegetation Houses, Shade Area, Selection Depot, Growth and Acclimation and the Outbound Depot.
