SYNGENTA AND TNC WORK TOGETHER FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE...

April 29, 2019 11:00 UTC

Syngenta and The Nature Conservancy Team Up to Deliver Innovation for Nature

• Multi-year collaboration focuses on business practices aimed at improving soil health, resource efficiency and habitat protection in Argentina, Brazil, China, Kenya and the United States
• Syngenta commits to integrate sustainability principles into its core business offerings and research and development pipeline

BASEL, Switzerland & ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Syngenta and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) today announced a new Innovation for Naturecollaboration to promote soil health, resource efficiency and habitat protection in major agricultural regions worldwide. It brings together Syngenta’s research and development capabilities and TNC’s scientific and conservation expertise to scale up sustainable agricultural practices.

Syngenta and TNC have worked together for over a decade on various projects that support sustainable agriculture. This collaboration is intended to demonstrate how a company can reevaluate its business strategy by incorporating sustainability science into its decision-making process and engaging with farmers in new ways. The organizations are exploring investments in new precision agriculture solutions, cover cropping, integrated pest management, biological solutions, remote sensing and analytics, improved seed varieties and other advances. By joining forces, TNC and Syngenta aim to identify and test new innovations and technology that can benefit farmers and the environment at a greater pace and scale than either organization could achieve on its own.

“We are delighted to be furthering our work with The Nature Conservancy – we very much value their expertise in conservation and their collaborative and pragmatic approach to helping farmers to incorporate more sustainable approaches on their farms,” said Erik Fyrwald, Chief Executive Officer at Syngenta. “Through this collaboration, we aim to shape our innovation pipeline for greater environmental benefits and to make a step change in agronomic practices for better soil health, resource efficiency and climate resilience.”

The multi-year collaboration is focused on driving better conservation outcomes through Syngenta’s commercial network and its research and development capabilities – as well as partnering with international organizations, growers and communities. Independent third-party experts will be engaged where appropriate to help assess whether the collaboration is delivering measurable benefit for nature. The Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture, with its focus on helping smallholders and improving their farm productivity and access to markets, will also be integral to the collaboration.

“Growing and producing food sustainably is critical as we take on climate change and other global challenges,” said Mark Tercek, Chief Executive Officer at TNC. “To protect nature – and all of us who depend on nature – our food system must do more to prevent deforestation, protect biodiversity and enhance soil health. Our collaboration with Syngenta is a step in the right direction and shows how two organizations with different missions and purposes can work together and look at innovation in a new way.”