Biotechnology restoring America’s forests through disease-resistant hardwood seedlings.
SilvaBio is a forest biotechnology company focused on restoring threatened North American hardwood species through advanced genomics, machine learning, and scalable seedling production. The company is best known for helping bring blight-tolerant American chestnut trees back from functional extinction while developing disease-resistant solutions for other at-risk species including ash, elm, oak, walnut, and beech.
SilvaBio combines biotechnology, speed breeding, and proprietary micropropagation systems to accelerate forest restoration at commercial scale. Building on the breakthrough Darling 54 chestnut developed by collaborators at SUNY ESF, the company is developing regionally adapted seedling varieties and scaling production for landowners, conservation organizations, and reforestation efforts across the United States.
As a Public Benefit Company, SilvaBio is working at the intersection of climate resilience, biodiversity protection, and sustainable forestry. Their mission addresses one of the largest ecological challenges facing North American forests by restoring species critical to ecosystem health, carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and rural economies.
SilvaBio creates environmental impact by restoring tree species devastated by invasive pathogens and climate-related stressors using biotechnology-driven breeding systems. Their platform accelerates the development of disease-resistant hardwood trees capable of restoring biodiversity, improving ecosystem resilience, and strengthening forest carbon sequestration.
The company’s work also supports rural economies, conservation organizations, and long-term forest productivity by enabling large-scale reforestation with resilient seedlings. Through scalable deployment of blight-tolerant chestnut and disease-resistant hardwoods, SilvaBio contributes to healthier forests and more climate-resilient ecosystems across North America.
- Advancing restoration of the American chestnut from functional extinction
- America’s hardwood forests contribute more than $350 billion annually to the U.S. economy
- U.S. forests offset nearly 15% of national carbon emissions
- Developing disease-resistant solutions for chestnut, ash, elm, oak, walnut, and beech
- Uses genomics, machine learning, speed breeding, and micropropagation for accelerated restoration

Photo credit: SilvaBio
Forest Restoration Technology
Uses advanced genomics, machine learning, and biotechnology to restore threatened hardwood tree species.
Disease-Resistant Seedlings
Develops blight-tolerant and disease-resistant trees designed to rebuild resilient forest ecosystems.
Climate & Biodiversity Impact
Supports carbon sequestration, biodiversity recovery, and ecosystem resilience across North America.
Scalable Reforestation
Combines speed breeding and micropropagation systems to scale seedling production for forest restoration projects.
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