Syngenta is charting a new path forward for its global environmental goals, starting from the ground-up, both metaphorically and pragmatically for the organization. The path is outlined in the release of new Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance Data (“ESG”) achievements and sustainability strategy.
Reporting significant gains in their current ESG programs, Syngenta’s 2023 report highlights $244 million USD invested in sustainable agriculture breakthroughs, putting them 78% of the way toward their cumulative $2 billion target by 2025.
Soil Health As A Springboard
Going forward, the company is betting on a new soil health focus to help them reach the milestone goal.
“In the face of climate change, prioritizing soil health is the first line of defense,” says Matt Wallenstein, chief soil scientist at Syngenta Group.
According to Wallenstein, leveraging soil health has benefits that cut across crop sectors and regions.
“On a global scale, we know a warming climate accelerates soil decomposition, and the release of carbon into the atmosphere, and more frequent droughts and floods can cause soil erosion, leading to reduced productivity and land value over time.”
“A principle I often share is that healthy soil with good water infiltration and retention can make the difference between a failed or healthy crop,” he says.
Therefore, he says that farmers who focus on soil health can reap those benefits and avoid the consequences.
Wallenstein believes that soil health is “more important than ever for productivity, profitability, and sustainability” for farmers. To that end, Syngenta is rolling out new partnerships, collaborations, and programs aimed at:
· providing tools to the retail system
· informing their R&D platform
· bringing new opportunities for soil health to farmers for on-the-ground implementation
Pragmatically, Wallenstein says these goals look like equipping the company’s agronomists with cutting-edge practical soil health knowledge so that they can bridge the gap with customers. In turn, that feedback will help inform the company’s future innovation pipeline.
“Using a robust system for feeding those farmer insights directly into our R&D pipeline, we can accelerate the delivery of impactful and novel solutions to those on the front line of production,” says Wallenstein.
Seed and Soil
The soil health focus is permeating through all aspects of Syngenta’s operations, including its seed production, which Wallenstein says has its own target of 85% produced through regenerative practices by 2030.
“We are walking the talk by supporting our contract seed producers in adopting these practices through technical assistance and access to our cutting-edge enabling technology, such as biostimulants, and implementing these practices across our own seed production farms,” he says. “Not only is this transition good for the planet, but it will help us ensure our ability to deliver consistently high-quality seeds to farmers for years to come.”
Data-Driven Decisions
Research projects, such as one with Michigan State University at their W.K. Kellogg Biological Station, are already underway, developing tools that can help growers understand, test, monitor, and measure long-term soil health benefits, bringing data that can help influence conservation adoption and operational management decisions.
“In this project, we are quantifying robust, causal linkages between soil health indicators and agronomic and environmental outcomes,” Wallenstein says. “We are testing soil health indicators across a range of soil types and climatic conditions using long-term trials across the Midwest.”
“In the future, we want to offer farmers data that will help them reach both long-term soil health goals and short-term commercial success.”
Longer-Lens For Potential Return On Investment
While the reporting goals and plans paint an aggressive soil health goal for Syngenta, Wallenstein says soil health adoption is not without challenges. But, he says, the company is committed to partnering with growers to find solutions for those hurdles.
“There is ample scientific evidence that adopting practices like conservation tillage, cover crops, and diverse rotations can lead to potential increased yields, yield stability, and better efficiency in most places, and adoption may lead to a strong potential return on investment for growers and landowners over the long run,” Wallenstein says. “But many technical and financial barriers stand in the way, making it easier said than done.”
“In some situations, there can be a transition period of yield drag before realizing the benefits–a tough pill to swallow,” he adds. “On the research side, we are seeking to unravel the mechanisms that drive this delayed response so that we can develop solutions to avoid it. This research is in close collaboration with leading growers, where we both learn from each other.”
With its march toward a more resilient future, Syngenta is aiming to equip farmers with the tools they need.
“As we develop solutions that will enable farmers to adopt and sustain soil health practices, we’re working closely with them to help achieve the best outcomes by building long-term partnerships, trust, and transparency.”
