Crop Protection products and activities

Syngenta is a world-leading agribusiness committed to sustainable agriculture through innovative research and technology. The company is a leader in crop protection, and ranks third in the high-value commercial seeds market. Sales in 2007 were approximately $9.2 billion. Syngenta employs over 21,000 people in more than 90 countries. Syngenta is listed on the Swiss stock exchange (SYNN) and in New York (SYT)

In the developed world it has become the norm to walk into a supermarket and choose from a wide variety of food products of very high quality. It would not be possible to maintain the supply and quality we now expect, at today's prices, without using some crop protection products. The key is to strike the balance between using as few chemicals as possible whilst delivering the consumer's expectation on food quality and affordability.

Crop protection products are designed to protect crops from attack by pests, weeds and diseases. Their use is not just only about producing higher yields, but also about optimising the use of scarce resources including land, water and labour.

The benefits of crop protection products to food quality are three-fold:-

1. They are a vital component in producing crops of uniform quality, unblemished, pest-free with minimum wastage.
2. They can reduce the level of natural toxins produced by fungi and bacteria in food crops.
3. In some instances, they can increase the nutritional value of food, for example fungicide treatment can improve the protein content in cereals.

Crop protection products not only allow foodstuffs to reach the shops in good condition, but also extend the supply seasons for a wide range of produce. Their role in food hygiene – preventing contamination by rats, mice, flies and other insects – is also of significant importance to our health.