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Date released
30 August 2018

Midgley pours me a fresh cup of high-grown Arabica coffee. And I notice it’s not the only thing on the table from PNG. There are also some exquisite samples of balsa wood.

‘Most people don’t realise that balsa isn’t just used for model aeroplanes,’ he says. ‘The vast majority is used for many important applications, including some of the world’s finest coffee tables.’ He smiles and takes a deep, meditative sip.

Midgley talks about the ACIAR research program that supports the development of durable, engineered wood products in PNG, and specifically plantation-grown balsa. Plantation-grown balsa is kiln-dried and processed in an end-grain configuration, which means the wood is cut across the grain and its growth rings.

‘End-grain balsa is ideal for use as a core in sandwich composites,’ he says. ‘It has extremely high strength and stiffness-to-weight ratios and achieves an excellent bond with all types of resins and adhesives. End-grain balsa also has excellent fire performance, and good sound and thermal insulation.’

Located in PNG’s East New Britain Province, ACIAR’s balsa program sought to help smallholder farmers grow higher-quality balsa. ‘To grow well, balsa needs high-quality soil, uniform rainfall and an even growing period,’ Midgley says. ‘Our ACIAR project looked at improved genetics and management to ensure the production of a consistent product, and efficient harvest and handling to avoid blue stain fungi infection.’

Stephen Midgley is a forester and development specialist who, after a long career with CSIRO, now runs his own consulting business, Salwood Asia Pacific.
Stephen Midgley is a forester and development specialist who, after a long career with CSIRO, now runs his own consulting business, Salwood Asia Pacific.
Stephen Midgley with examples of balsa wood.
Stephen Midgley with examples of balsa wood.

PNG is the world’s second-largest balsa producer after Ecuador. It’s a very competitive global market that includes several Central American countries as minor players. Midgley says that ACIAR’s research program cast a light on an otherwise rather secretive industry.

‘The beauty of our ACIAR project was that we could release all this know-how as public information. Up until then, the global balsa market was very hushed because it was so competitive. We’ve have had substantial interest in our published reports, and the market was very happy to see them made public.’

With increased transparency of markets and improved knowledge of balsa production, Midgley says that smallholders have been able to grow high-quality balsa more efficiently. The research also explained the significance of the balsa value chain to smallholders, offering them the opportunity to assess land-use options and provide increased income streams to their families and communities.

Midgley is clearly passionate about balsa. His eyes light up as he talks about its many sophisticated applications and prospects for the future. ‘Most recently, balsa has found application in renewable energies, and specifically the interior of wind turbine blades. It’s also used for boat construction, such as in the hulls of racing boats and decking on yachts. And about 30% of the balsa produced globally has military applications, such as aircraft cargo pallets.’

Servicing these products and markets are all prime examples of ACIAR-funded research having tangible outcomes for both Australian businesses and government defence.

ACIAR PROJECT: Improving the Papua New Guinea balsa value chain to enhance smallholder livelihoods (FST/2009/016)