Syngenta Group to pump $2b into sustainable projects

Syngenta Group, the global seeds, crop protection and nutrition product manufacturer, plans to invest $2 billion in over 300 projects both in China and globally by 2025, aiming to achieve breakthroughs in sustainable development and regenerative agriculture, said a senior executive.

Jiang Yekui, chief sustainability officer of Syngenta Group China, said this reinforces the group's dedication and ambition to pioneer sustainable agriculture.

"Sustainability is now fully embedded in our business strategy, with defined goals and a strong desire to drive innovation," said Jiang. "Our aim is to shift agriculture from being a significant source of greenhouse gases to becoming a key part of the solution to climate change."

Syngenta Group launched its sustainability focus in four key areas: more efficient planting, healthier soil, more prosperous rural areas and more sustainable operations.

According to its plans, Syngenta Group aims to train 18 million farmers annually and cover 100 million hectares of farmland with digital technology platforms by 2030.

Noting that China has 500 million mu (about 33 million hectares) of saline-alkali land available for improvement or development, Jiang said that enhancing the utilization of saline-alkali land will help grow more grains within the country.

With China entering a new era of green and innovation-led growth, Jiang said that China's emphasis on nurturing new quality productive forces will help the country establish a beachhead in strategic emerging industries and inject strong impetus into the country's agriculture sector.

"Unlike traditional productive forces that rely on factors like labor, land and capital, new quality productive forces are increasingly driven by technological innovation and modern elements such as data," he added.

Supported by nearly 60,000 employees, Syngenta Group currently operates businesses in over 100 countries and regions worldwide.

The company planned for regenerative agriculture practices to cover 50 million hectares of land globally by 2030.