Syngenta today announced results for the second year of The Good Growth Plan, which comprises six ambitious commitments for 2020 to support the sustainability of agriculture and the development of rural communities.
In 2015, Syngenta projects and partnerships enhanced biodiversity on a cumulative 1.6 million hectares of land and improved the soil on 2.4 million hectares – a combined area equivalent to the size of Switzerland. Syngenta also reached 17.2 million smallholders, allowing them to access key solutions to increase their productivity and benefit rural communities.
In the Samara region in Russia, for example, 245 farmers participated in a series of events with scientists, local authorities and Syngenta agronomists on minimum tillage, which avoids churning up the earth and maintains soil moisture and porosity. “This new technology increases yields by 25-30 percent compared with traditional tillage”, said Prof. Vasily Lukhmenev from Orenburg State Agro University, who participated in the project.
In Lumajang, Indonesia, successful rice growers achieving a yield of 10 tons per hectare each passed on their knowledge to 30 other smallholders, supported by Syngenta agronomists and government counselors. “Farmers may make a mistake in identifying a disease and take the wrong remedial action. By adopting modern technology, my rice harvest yield increases and my harvest income is better”, said Hadi Suwono, one of the 15,000 smallholders participating in the program.
Syngenta Chief Executive Officer, John Ramsay, said: “With the Good Growth Plan, a global network of 3,600 farmers and many organizations in 42 countries are joining forces to demonstrate and measure the sustainable use of technology in agriculture. Data is independently collected and validated and in 2015 we achieved audit level of assurance. As we drive progress towards our six commitments, we are reaching out to partners and learning from our stakeholders. In this way we can make a difference and contribute to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals”.
A description of each commitment and an overview of the progress made in 2015 are below. For more information, please go to www.goodgrowthplan.com or the Syngenta Annual Review 2015: www.ar2015.syngenta.com
