Tag Archives: Syngenta

Syngenta launches Saltro fungicide seed treatment globally

Global ag. chem. company Syngenta has announced the global launch of a new SDHI-based fungicide seed treatment, with a view to getting the first approvals in international markets next year.

SALTRO™, which contains the novel active ingredient ADEPIDYN™, will initially be marked for the control of blackleg in canola (oilseed rape); Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) in soybeans and Bakanae in rice, but following initial planned registrations in the United States, Canada and Australia, use of the chemical could be expanded to other crops and diseases.

Ioana Tudor, Global Head of Syngenta Seedcare, said, “We are excited to be adding SALTRO™ to our broad seed treatment portfolio. It will offer growers even more choices to control early seedling diseases to an unmatched level, by ensuring stand uniformity with strong and healthy plant growth right from the start.”

Photo Credit: Syngenta

The post Syngenta launches Saltro fungicide seed treatment globally appeared first on Hort News on 7 June 2018.

Syngenta launches student Farm Tech Challenge

Syngenta is looking for UK students between the ages of 11 and 19 to enter its Farm Tech Challenge.

Students are challenged to ‘plan, deliver, evaluate and report on a project that uses digital technology to address one of the themes of The Good Growth Plan.’ These are: making crops more efficient; rescuing more farmland (protecting soil and reducing erosion); helping biodiversity flourish; empowering smallholders and helping people stay safe.

Entries must involve the design and development of a programmable digital system to gather data, process it and produce a useful output.

As well as guides for students and teachers, Syngenta has also developed a ‘Schools’ Media Pack’ to help those teachers taking part in the project raise awareness of their school and students’ involvement in The Farm Tech Challenge and get the best media coverage.

Jim Morton, Outreach Manager, Syngenta, explains, “The future of agriculture is very exciting and there is enormous potential for the application of technology to help us meet the challenge of sustainably feeding a growing population. We are delighted to give students an opportunity to take part in this Challenge where they will gain the experience of developing real-life innovations, together with the skills and knowledge that are relevant to a range of STEM-related careers.”

As well Syngenta, the Challenge is supported by a number of organisations including the Institute of Agricultural Engineers, the University of Manchester, Harper Adams University, Linking Environment and Farming (LEAF) and others. Full details can be found at: www.farmtechchallenge.co.uk

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New Reflect gives green light for higher carrot yields

A new carrot fungicide from Syngenta, launched at the British Carrot Growers Association Carrot Open Day earlier this month, enhances green leaf and provides exceptional disease control Say the manufacturers.

Reflect combines a dual action of enhancing plant green leaf health and controlling a broad spectrum of diseases. The active ingredient isopyrazam has been shown to produce visibly greener leaf canopies. Utilising latest NDVI technology, greener crops can be measurably more effective in capturing sunlight, and converting energy to yield. Enhanced light capture also gives the potential to increase sugar carbohydrate levels in roots.

Syngenta Field Technical Manager, Pete Saunders says that green leaves and upright foliage prolongs photosynthetic activity that could lead to greater yield. “Furthermore, it will help growers to extend top lifting, which is faster and cleaner,” he added. “It also gives longer frost protection that can reduce costly straw down and improved root quality.”

Mr Saunders also said that Reflect delivered excellent control of Alternaria and Powdery Mildew, which ensured a clean and healthy crop. The strong healthy foliage would significantly reduce the crop’s susceptibility to Sclerotinia. Independent trials have shown incorporating two applications of Reflect, as the second and fourth sprays in a commercial carrot fungicide programme, retained over 50% more disease free green leaf at the end of the season, compared to using a strobilurin + triazole fungicide at the same timings.

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Syngenta outlines pipeline of new chemistry

On 16 September Syngenta outlined its pipeline of new product innovations during an Investor Day held at its research centre at Stein in Switzerland.

In crop protection, the company showcased its technology pipeline of nine new active ingredients including the breakthrough, broad spectrum fungicide ADEPIDYN™ (pydiflumetofen) and ORONDIS™ for vegetables and specialty crops, which the Syngenta hopes will reinforce its global leadership in fungicides. The pipeline also includes new insecticides, herbicides and seed treatments.

Trish Malarkey, Head of Research and Development, said, “We are accelerating the rate of our innovation while further improving productivity and return on investment. We are at the beginning of an exciting period in the innovation journey of Syngenta with cutting-edge science driving significant value creation in the short, medium and long-term across all technologies.”

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Wildflower attraction boosts pollinator numbers

Syngenta used European Pollinator Awareness Week (13-19 July) to highlight the role that its Operation Pollinator seed mixtures can play in increasing pollinator populations in field margins and other areas.

“Against a backdrop of declining numbers of pollinating insects, we have seen encouraging results for some species, thanks largely to the efforts of farmers to establish wildflower habitats and the changes in cultivation techniques that help some ground nesting solitary bees,” advised independent entomologist Mike Edwards.

According to the company, monitoring of Operation Pollinator Annual Wildflower Mix habitats has identified a number of valuable solitary bee species, including Andrena flavipes, an important pollinator of oilseed rape, fruit and other crops. The Operation Pollinator Annual Wildflower Mix has now helped to establish more than 400 hectares of new habitat over the past year.

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Syngenta rejects second Monsanto bid

Swiss-based agricultural and chemical company Syngenta says that it has rejected a second takeover approach by America’s Monsanto.

Syngenta said it received another letter from Monsanto on Saturday 6 June, which repeated the company’s earlier offer to acquire Syngenta for about $45 billion, which was rejected in May partly due to potential regulatory concerns. According to reports, the latest offer added a $2 billion breakup fee if the merger proved unpalatable to regulators, which Syngenta described as “wholly inadequate” and “paltry.”

“Monsanto’s second letter represents the same inadequate price, same inadequate regulatory undertakings to close, same regulatory risks and same issues associated with dual headquarters’ moves,” Syngenta said in a news release. “As such, we have reiterated our prior rejection of Monsanto’s proposal.”

In its latest letter Monsanto said: “As a sign of our high degree of confidence in obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals, we are willing to commit to a reverse break-up fee of $2bn payable if we are unable to consummate the transaction for antitrust reasons within 18 months. Such a fee would be among the highest reverse break-up fees that any company has agreed to.”

The US company says that its current bid represents 15.8 times Syngenta’s earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (ebitda) for 2014, a “significantly higher” figure than seen in other deals in the sector.

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Syngenta factory workers to strike

Members of the Unite union who work at Syngenta’s Huddersfield plant have voted for strike action following a breakdown in discussions about the firm’s pension scheme.

86 per cent of Unite members at the Swiss-based multinational’s facility in Huddersfield voted to carry out a 24 hour strike on 7th May in response to planned changes to the scheme. The changes, which affect about two-thirds of the site’s 380 workers, see employees’ pensions based on their pensionable pay at March 1, 2015, no matter how many more years they may be employed by the company or how their pay may increase over that period.

Steve Donaghey, senior representative for Unite members among staff at the site said the union was talking to Syngenta, adding: “The door has always been open.”

A statement by Syngenta said: “We are disappointed colleagues have decided to support industrial action at our Huddersfield site. These changes are essential to ensuring the long-term financial viability of the scheme, which remains a very competitive benefit for participating employees. Based on the ballot outcome Syngenta will now enter further discussions with employee and union representatives in the coming days with a view to finding a way forward.”

The post Syngenta factory workers to strike appeared first on Hort News on 29 April 2015.