OUR STORY
At SilvaBio, we bioengineer and sell superior seedlings.
For the first time, we are bringing a tree back from functional extinction, the iconic American chestnut. And we are using our science platform to restore other valuable at-risk trees.
America’s hardwood forests contribute $350B to the economy, support biodiversity, and offset nearly 15% of U.S. carbon emissions - but they are under threat.
Invasive pathogens wiped out the American chestnut and now threaten ash, oak, elm, beech, and more. Traditional solutions have failed. SilvaBio is different. We are producing the only blight-resistant American chestnut, and we are using this experience to target several other hardwood species.
We operate USDA-permitted orchards, use genomics and field data to develop disease-tolerant cultivars, and work with landowners and research partners to scale reforestation efforts. Our goal is not just to preserve native tree species, but to replant them—stronger and more adaptable for the future. We call our approach Better trees, at scale.
Our seedlings are meeting demand across timber, conservation, and climate markets. Our mission is to create the disease-tolerant seedlings needed to restore the health and resilience of North America’s forests through science-driven solutions to tree disease.
We invite you to contact us.
We have become great because of the lavish use of our resources. But the time has come to inquire seriously what will happen when our forests are gone”.
Theodore Roosevelt.
A BREAKTHROUGH
Our first breakthrough came in partnership with the American Chestnut Research & Restoration Project at SUNY-ESF, which developed the first blight-tolerant American chestnut cultivar using a naturally occurring enzyme, OxO.
SilvaBio holds the only commercial license for the Darling line of American chestnut trees, which exhibit high tolerance to chestnut blight while retaining the ecological and genetic characteristics of their wild counterparts. This foundational work validated our scientific approach—and became the launching point for our broader mission.
We’re now expanding our platform to develop disease-resistant cultivars of other threatened hardwood species, including ash, elm, and oak. Using genomic selection, trait prediction, and a nationwide network of research sites, SilvaBio is building a scalable model for species recovery across North America.
OUR TEAM
We are passionate about conservation, innovative models for agriculture, rural livelihoods, and new technologies. We bring together an entrepreneurial spirit, scientific rigor, and practical know-how to provide the highest-quality blight-tolerant American chestnut trees at scale.
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Michael Bloom
Michael Bloom is a serial entrepreneur and avid outdoorsman, having successfully developed, led and sold two pioneering ed-tech companies, Great Courses and Learn25. Coming from a family of master gardeners & outdoor enthusiasts, Michael combines a passion for forest restoration with over 25 years of leadership experience. Michael has a B.S. degree from Boston University and an MBA with High Honors from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
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Andrew Serazin
Andrew Serazin is a scientist, non-profit leader, and entrepreneur. He is past President of the Templeton World Charity Foundation as well as a senior executive at the Gates Foundation. He has a Bachelor of Science from the University of Notre Dame and was awarded a doctorate from the University of Oxford in Medical Sciences, where he was a Rhodes Scholar. In 2019, he was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.
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Jeff Zarnowski
A leading nut tree expert, Jeff Zarnowski has been managing orchards and developing cultivars for over 30 years. Jeff holds 38 U.S. patents and has published extensively on tree nut business, dendrology, and orchard management, including his “Hazelnut and Chestnut Handbook,” which contains wisdom from decades of hard-earned practical experience and careful research. Jeff graduated from SUNY Binghamton with an electrical engineering degree, and studied law at Western State Law school.
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Andrew Albert
Andrew Albert is a bioinformatics scientist dedicated to harnessing the power of data to drive innovation in computational biology. With a Master of Science in Bioinformatics from Johns Hopkins University, Andrew specializes in developing advanced analytical solutions for challenges in biotechnology, with applications in tree and forest restoration, sustainable agriculture, and ecosystem health. His expertise includes genomic data analysis, machine learning, and the application of cutting-edge bioinformatics tools.
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Nathan McNulty
Nate McNulty is a computational biologist and biotechnology entrepreneur. He leverages genomic tools to understand the biology of the American chestnut and other hardwoods. He earned his B.S. from MIT and his Ph.D. from Washington University in St. Louis. Nate was VP of Research at Matatu, a biotech that sought to enhance the health and growth of livestock through data-driven improvement of the microbiome. He is passionate about exploring the complex interactions between living organisms and their environments.
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Skylar Kim
Skylar Kim is a molecular biologist passionate about exploring how living things survive environmental stresses and pathogens. He combines biochemical, genetic, and computational approaches. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of California, Berkeley, where he worked on desiccation tolerance in yeast. He is currently completing his Ph.D. at MIT, where he investigates how human antiviral factors disrupt viral protein synthesis to grant resistance at the cellular level.
NEWS
Can Genetic Engineering Bring Back the American Chestnut? - New York Times Magazine
Scientists Join Forces to Save Ash Trees Facing Intercontinental Threats - USDA Forest Service
MSU Researchers at Forefront of Efforts to Halt Spread of Oak Wilt - Michigan State University
The Largest Elm Tree Restoration Effort in the Northeast - The Nature Conservancy
Contact Us
We have developed distinctive lines of Darling and DarWin blight-tollerant trees, established seed orchards and now look forward to distributing these special trees to select customers.
Contact us now if you want to inquire about obtaining blight-tolerant chestnut trees or for collaboration opportunities.
