Arable land is limited while the demand for food continues to grow. Agriculture has to do more with less, making the best use of natural resources and maximizing the yield of every crop planted.
Increasing Yields through Technology
A worldwide step-change in farm productivity is needed to meet the increasing demand
Population is growing rapidly and the global population is expected to rise from nearly 7 billion people today to more than 9 billion by 2050. Most of this growth will occur in less developed countries. By 2050, around 3 billion more people are expected to be living in cities. Urban sprawl reduces arable land and its pressure on rural communities to increase agricultural productivity.
In the meantime, global energy demand is expected to increase by around 50 percent by 2030. As fossil fuels are limited, renewable energy from plants play an increasingly important role as an alternative.
With less...
As global population is growing, and farmland is limited, the available farmland per capita is expected to decline from 0.23 hectare to 0.16 hectare by 2050, a decrease of around 30 percent. Agriculture must meet rising demand for food and fuel without encroaching on natural habitats.
Furthermore, soil erosion through wind and water, deforestation and droughts destroys around 12 million hectares of agricultural land every year. On that land 50 million tons could be grown.
While water is essential for agriculture; around 70 percent of global water withdrawal is used in agriculture. But global demand continues to grow and the distribution of water resources is unequal. At the same time, up to 40 percent of the water used in agriculture is lost on the field due to inefficient farming practice.
Syngenta helps growers around the world do more with less.
Through the dedicated pursuit of the company purpose - Bringing plant potential to life - Syngenta all over the world is making a meaningful contribution to meeting this formidable challenge.
Modern breeding creates high quality seed for corn and soybean, diverse field crops, a broad range of vegetables and a large variety of flowers. The development of biotech traits such as resistance against pests and tolerance to drought, helps to increase crop yields.
Syngenta's world leading seed care technology helps plants in their critical growth stage to develop strong roots - the basis for a health crop and high yields. Through coating high-quality seeds with a single or multiple high-performing crop protection products, seeds and young plants are protected against insects and disease.
Controlling weeds, insects and diseases
With Syngenta's broad range of safe and efficient crop protection products, we improve crop yields and health in all stages of plant development. Our insecticides and fungicides protect the crop from insects and disease, and improve plant vigor. Syngenta herbicides control weeds which can reduce yields through competition for nutrients, water and light. Modern chemical technologies also help plants to reduce yield losses during periods of drought or heat.
Benefits for growers, processors and consumers
Advances in technology are enabling us to maximize the potential of plants. Enzymes help to convert plant matter into useable raw materials. Post harvest protection enables more efficient processing and prolongs shelf-life. Consumers benefit from improvements in crop quality- for example the development of better-tasting vegetables.
Improving livelihoods for rural communities
Syngenta all over the world contributes to improving the livelihoods for rural communities, by increasing agricultural productivity, improving health and quality of crops, reducing the need for manual labor on the field and providing industry-leading stewardship and training.
