Syngenta commits $2 billion and sets new targets for innovation to tackle climate change

• Syngenta dedicates $2 billion over five years to innovation specifically targeted at delivering a step change in agricultural sustainability
• CEO Erik Fyrwald announced the market launch of two technological breakthroughs a year at the Sustainability Summit in New York
• Syngenta will reduce the carbon intensity of the company’s operations by 50 percent by 2030, to support the goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change

In mid-October Syngenta announced $2 billion will be spent over the next five years to help farmers prepare for and tackle the increasing threats posed by climate change. The investment supports a new Syngenta sustainability goal of delivering at least two technological breakthroughs to market each year, to reduce agriculture’s contribution to climate change, harness its mitigation capacity, and help the food system stay within planetary boundaries. Erik Fyrwald, Chief Executive Officer at Syngenta also announced that the investment in research and development for sustainable agriculture will be matched by a drive to reduce the carbon intensity of the company’s operations by at least 50% by 2030 to support the ambitious goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change. Syngenta’s commitment has been validated and endorsed by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

“Agriculture is now at the front line of global efforts to tackle climate change,” said Mr Fyrwald. “Syngenta is committed to accelerating our innovation to find better and ever safer solutions to address the shared challenge of climate change and biodiversity loss.” “These aren’t just words, this is real action that will drive focus in Syngenta to help farmers tackle climate change and reduce the sector’s contribution to the world’s greenhouse gas emissions.” The $2 billion will be directed towards programs with clearly differentiated benefits or breakthrough technologies that will enable a step change in agricultural sustainability, such as land use, soil health and integrated pest management.

The targets form part of Syngenta’s Accelerating Innovation commitment launched earlier this year to address the increased challenges faced by farmers because of climate change, soil erosion and biodiversity loss. Progress against these targets will be reported annually and independently audited. The announcement was in large part informed by the completion of 150 listening sessions around the globe – including Hungary as well – to help the company’s leaders identify priority areas for investment.