Swiss agricultural technology firm Syngenta is taking on the global challenge of maintaining sustainable crop growth.
With the global population expected to increase by another 2 billion by 2050 to 9 billion, and an estimated one billion people around the world going hungry, it will be a challenge to sustainably feed the world’s peoples.
Agriculture is estimated to use 40 per cent of the world’s land surface and 70 per cent of all available fresh water.
Syngenta said their crop protection products can reduce required resources while simultaneously improve yields by 30 per cent.
Over the last four years the company has seen strong growth in its business in developing markets - mainly in Asia and South America.
“Now, 50 per cent of our business comes from emerging markets, of which Asia is an integral part,” Syngenta’s Asia Pacific head of corporate affairs Andrew McConville said.
“We are seeing very, very strong growth and that growth is very sustainable … and that is in response to technology that farmers are asking for.”
But the introduction of new agricultural technologies is not without its challenges, with the impact on surrounding flora and fauna already being raised as an example.
“The concerns regarding bee populations is something that we take very seriously and we are working very closely with bee keepers right around the world,” McConville said.
“I think the key is to focus on the stewarding of the product and ensuring that they are safely used.”
It is important that farmers have a right to choose whether they want to produce with products or organically, Syngenta said.
It is estimated that organic produce accounts for only two per cent of global supply.
