Syngenta Vegetable Seeds has opened a new R&D Technology Centre which is focused on combating emerging pathogens that are destroying crops.
Located in El Ejido, Almería, Spain, the $10 million facility will support the reduction of traditional breeding timelines as well as developing solutions for crops including tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers.
Equipped with biosafety technology, the centre will allow scientists to work with emerging threats in controlled and quarantined environment, while maintaining plant health standards. The centre also brings together breeding, seed operations, trait development, fruit quality, applied data science and digital.
“New pathogens are emerging at an unprecedented rate, affecting growers around the world,” said Matthew Johnston, global head of Syngenta’s Vegetable Seeds business. “It’s essential to deliver strong resistant seeds to protect crops and growers’ livelihoods,” Johnston added.
Syngenta says that the technology centre uses a “field-to-lab approach” where diagnostics begin directly in the growers’ fields, which the company says “places the grower at the centre of the research.”
“This investment further reinforces our commitment to support growers with innovation and bring solutions to help protect their crops,” Johnston said.
Syngenta adds that not only is Southern Spain one of the world’s most important vegetable production areas, but the Almeria region is said to have one of the largest concentrations of greenhouses in the world, covering more than 30 000 hectares and producing nearly 4 million tonnes of vegetables each year.
“As part of a global network of Innovation Centres, this site is one of the best examples in demonstrating the close connection between our breeders and the growers who rely our product performance, quality and availability to secure their production needs,” said Uri Krieger, global head of R&D for Syngenta Vegetable Seeds. “The work we do here year-round with a team of incredible scientists not only supports growers in Spain, but all around the world as we share insights and data with R&D teams strategically located in every major growing region.”
Earlier this year Syngenta announced that construction had started on a new research centre located at its site in Jealott's Hill, Berkshire, UK. The so called BioSTaR (Biological Science Technology and Research) facility will focus on delivering innovation across chemical, biological and digital platforms and will bring together around 300 scientists who are already working at the site.
Further reading:
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