Syngenta Seeds breaks ground on “farmer-first” R&D Innovation Center in Malta, Illinois

Syngenta Seeds formally kicked off construction of its new 88-acre R&D Innovation Center in Malta, Illinois, welcoming farmers and local officials to a groundbreaking ceremony on June 30.

As announced in August 2020, the nearly 100,000-square-foot facility will join Syngenta’s global network of R&D sites. The new facility will also serve as the home base for Syngenta Seeds’ U.S. Research and Development.

Located in the heart of the U.S. Corn Belt, the center will strengthen Syngenta’s connections and collaborations with farmers.

Left to right: Jamie Willrett, DeKalb County farmer; Paul Borek, Executive Director, DeKalb County Economic Development Corporation; Eric Boeck, Head of Marketing, North America Seeds, Syngenta; G.W. Fuhr, Head of U.S. Sales, Syngenta; Warren Kruger, Head of North America Seeds Development, Syngenta; Judd Maxwell, Corn Product Placement Head, Syngenta; and Terri Ulrick, Principal, BWBR Architects.

The DeKalb County location, about one hour west of Syngenta’s global and North America Seeds headquarters in Downers Grove, Illinois, will also facilitate collaborations with the broader agriculture industry.

The new center will supplement the work of Syngenta’s more than 5,000 R&D employees around the world. Construction is expected to be completed by fall 2022.