A few days ago, Syngenta announced that the Vietnamese Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has approved its Bt11 x GA21 double stack corn seed for commercial cultivation in the country. Syngenta, one of the world’s leading companies in the field of Green Biotechnology, have more than 28,000 employees in over 90 countries. The company is committed to providing integrated crop solutions and agronomic knowledge which support growers in increasing productivity and crop quality.
Corn hybrids containing the Bt11 trait are designed to control the Asian Corn Borer, the most damaging corn pest in ASEAN countries. GA21 glyphosate tolerance will give farmers greater flexibility in managing weeds, thereby helping them to maximize yield potential. The double stack will be available for the 2015/2016 season.
Syngenta Chief Operating Officer Davor Pisk said: “Today’s announcement is another example of the broad potential of our proprietary corn traits. The decision by the Vietnamese government will give growers access to a wider choice of agricultural technologies and will be a valuable addition to our integrated offers in Vietnam.”
Additionally, Syngenta has recently published the first update on progress towards meeting the six ambitious commitments in The Good Growth Plan, which was launched in 2013 to support the future sustainability of agriculture and rural communities. The company has established a global network of over 3,500 reference and benchmark farms in 2014. Around 860 reference farms are using tailored protocols to raise productivity across all crops and key markets. The 2,700 benchmark farms represent a baseline for what growers are currently able to achieve.
Syngenta Chief Executive Officer, Mike Mack, said: “Today’s update verifies the progress made in the first year of The Good Growth Plan. It also shows there is much to do if we are to meet the challenging goals we set ourselves by 2020. But we should be encouraged by the fact we now have the capacity to measure, monitor and manage improvements in land productivity and input efficiency. This greatly improves our ability to have a deep and positive impact on farmers and rural communities.”
Formed in 2000 as a result of a large merger, Syngenta is one of the main Monsanto’s competitor. The Swiss company is dedicated to provide integrated crop solutions and agronomic knowledge which support growers in increasing productivity and crop quality in a sustainable way.