Syngenta: Driving Seedcare business growth through continued innovation

Seed treatment involves the application of biological, physical, and chemical agents on seed before planting for crop protection. It helps to control soil and seed-borne infections and diseases. In addition, it also improves the yield of crops, reduces germination time, and enhances overall productivity. Seed treatment has emerged as a cost-effective crop protection solution in comparison to conventional spraying as it is more efficient, less costly and less labor intensive. Syngenta is a leading company in the field of advanced seed treatment with an excellent product portfolio. Recently, AgroPages had the honor to interview MS Ioana Tudor, Head of Seedcare, Syngenta, about the seed treatment market.

Q1:  Could you please share your views about the current global market situation and development potential for seed treatment business?

The seed treatment business continues growing, particularly in emerging markets. Seed treatment is the most efficient way to protect the seed during the critical early stage, from planting through the first month.

Q2:  What is the strategic position of seed treatment in Syngenta’s product portfolio?

Seedcare is an important part of Syngenta since we provide innovative and sustainable solutions tailored to grower needs around the globe. Innovation is key and 25% of Seedcare sales of H1 this year are from new products. Launching new products and creating new categories helped to grow our share in 2015 to ~36% of the world market

Q3: What is the current Syngenta main seed treatment products? Could you introduce in details about some key products?

FORTENZATM Duo is a next-generation seed treatment insecticide that delivers long-lasting insect control both above and below the ground. It delivers superior results in a variety of climatic conditions – even under high pest pressure.

With a new mode of action for the seed treatment market, VIBRANCE defends roots against a wide range of diseases carried in soil, air and on the seed. It provides long-lasting protection of the entire plant root system through critical crop development stages and under a wide range of environmental conditions. The VIBRANCE root stimulating effect results in better biotic and abiotic stress management – the foundation for higher and more consistent yield. Syngenta won the 2011 Agrow Award for Best New Crop Protection Product for VIBRANCE, underscoring the value of this innovation.

MAXIM product family contains Fludioxonil which is the only molecule of its chemical class and is used exclusively as a seed treatment on various crops, such as maize (corn), soybean, potato or cotton. Fludioxonil is a contact fungicide that penetrates the seed surface and concentrates around the seed, thus providing a long-lasting protection zone around the young seedling. Its excellent crop safety combined with exceptional activity at a low use rate against targeted fungi, such as snow mold, seedborne and soilborne Fusarium, seedling blights or bunts, make fludioxonil a leading seed treatment molecule.

VISIVIO represents a major step forward in the way Canadian growers can protect their canola from early season flea beetle feeding and damage. Visivio contains a powerful combination of six active ingredients – two insecticides and four fungicides – to protect against both striped and crucifer flea beetles, along with a wide range of seed and soil-borne diseases, including Pythium and Rhizoctonia.

Q4: What are important and potentially important markets for Syngenta’s seed treatment?  What do you think of the Chinese market?

The global market size is estimated to be about $2.8bn, according to Phillips McDougall, main crops are cereals, corn and soybeans, with largest geographies USA and Brazil followed by Canada, France and China.

In emerging markets, such as Russia, Ukraine and above all China, we see the intensification of seed treatments to continue since the value of seeds is going up (better genetics, hybrids, genetically improved crops). Together with our partners (seed companies and distributors) we will continue creating seed treatment awareness so the grower will see the benefits of seed applied fungicides, insecticides & nematicides at doses which are 400 times smaller than a conventional spray and are safe to the growers and the environment.

Q5: As we know, Syngenta is the leader in seed treatment area in the world. Could you share with us some successful experiences about how to get this great achievement?

Our strong three pillar offer (Products – Application - Services) ensures that we deliver value beyond seed protection and is a key part of our success. Not only do we provide our customers with an industry leading product portfolio, we also give them in-depth application advice and support via our global network of Seedcare Institutes.  Finally we also help our customers to create and meet demand for their treated seeds via a broad range of commercial services like demo days and sales force training.

We have been pioneers in creating markets, from launching the first major seed treatment nematicide, Avicta, to creating a new category in root health with Vibrance.

Q6: What about the future plans for Syngenta’s seed treatment business and if there are any plan to launch new products in the coming years?

Syngenta will continue to introduce innovations in seed treatment in the coming years. We are currently in the process of launching our Epivio brand family of abiotic stress management products, with first launches in Brazil in soybean and China in corn this year.

Q7: What do you think are the major challenges for developing seed treatment business?

At Syngenta Seedcare we believe in innovation, we will be bringing new modes of action to prevent resistance, we will be developing new categories, like biological and stress management solutions, we are developing products with broader and longer lasting spectrum and last but not least, we see plant breeding and trait development as complementary technologies to seed treatments, so we work with our partners to develop integrated solutions conveniently delivered on the seed in the bag.