Syngenta, a global leader in agricultural innovation, is enhancing its commitment to sustainable farming by expanding its biological research and development. The company has acquired Novartis’s collection of natural compounds and genetic strains for agricultural applications, while Novartis retains exclusive rights for pharmaceutical uses.
Biologicals are agricultural technologies that utilize natural processes to protect and enhance crop health. They complement traditional agricultural inputs, offering farmers more options to manage pests and diseases while promoting sustainable practices.
This acquisition includes transferring Novartis’s Natural Products and Biomolecular Chemistry team to Syngenta and leasing Novartis’s fermentation pilot plant and laboratories in Basel, Switzerland. The deal is expected to be finalised on June 1st.
This move builds upon a successful research collaboration between Syngenta and Novartis since 2019, providing Syngenta with integrated capabilities in bioengineering, data science, fermentation, downstream processing, and analytics.
In addition to this acquisition, Syngenta has inaugurated a new biological production facility in Orangeburg, South Carolina, USA. This facility, the company’s first large-scale production site for agricultural biologicals in the U.S., aims to meet the increasing demand for innovative biological solutions in North and Latin America.
Syngenta also engages in multiple collaborations to accelerate biological innovation and strengthen its position in key growth areas such as nutrient use efficiency. Recent partnerships include:
- Provivi, for developing new pheromone solutions targeting pests in key Asian crops.
- Ginkgo Bioworks, to expedite the launch of innovative biologicals.
- Intrinsyx Bio, focusing on nutrient use efficiency advancements.
- Lavie Bio, to discover and develop novel bio-insecticides.
- Lithos Crop Protect, for creating sprayable pheromones against the Western Corn Rootworm pest.
- TraitSeq, leveraging artificial intelligence to accelerate biologicals development.
Camilla Corsi, Syngenta’s Global Head of Crop Protection Research and Development, stated that integrating these assets enhances the company’s ability to develop advanced biological solutions, reflecting its commitment to sustainable agriculture.
“We invest significantly to offer the industry’s most advanced pipeline of innovative agricultural solutions. The integration of these world-class assets opens a new chapter on our ability to develop cutting-edge biological solutions for farmers and reflects our commitment to drive solutions that continue to elevate the sustainability of agriculture.”
Jonathan Brown, Global Head of Syngenta’s Seedcare and Biologicals business, emphasized that this acquisition ensures a robust pipeline to support ongoing innovation in a growing market.
