Syngenta to open major seeds office in Chicago

• Builds Syngenta presence directly in the heart of U.S. corn and soy growing region and reinforces Syngenta's long-term commitment to seeds business
• Enables Syngenta to optimize seeds business growth and significantly ramp up digital capabilities in a Top-10 tech & digital innovation hub
• Chicago has unique combination of proximity to customers, talent pool for world-leading digital & tech innovation and excellent access to global seeds markets

October 25, Syngenta announced it will establish a major Global and North America Seeds office in the western suburbs of Chicago. Approximately 50 Syngenta Seeds business managers and employees will relocate from other U.S. locations beginning in the first half of 2019. The new site can accommodate expansion for planned growth.

“The U.S. is the most important seeds market in the world, and we believe the addition of a Chicago office positions us well to support our long-term growth strategy,” said Jeff Rowe, Syngenta president of global seeds, North America and China. “Our purpose for opening the Chicago office is three-fold: it positions us geographically closer to our U.S. customers in the important corn and soy growing region, gives us access to an incredible talent pool for world-leading digital and tech innovation, and readily connects us to other key seeds markets globally through an excellent transportation hub.”

Syngenta leaders in Seeds marketing, sales and administrative functions will work together in the new Chicago office to continue growing the global and North America business, which is driven by customer-focused R&D.

David Hollinrake, president of Syngenta Seeds and North America region director, said, “We are investing significantly in our U.S. Seeds business, adding talent in key areas and accelerating the development of new products. Our new location near Chicago places us closer to the majority of our customers, as well as to our business collaborators. This will enable us to develop more solutions for a market demanding innovation and choice.”

The company’s expansion in Illinois was lauded by state and industry leaders.

“Syngenta’s decision to locate a major seeds operation in Chicago enhances Illinois’ reputation as a leading innovation center for agriculture,” said Governor Bruce Rauner. “The company’s work in seeds and crop protection solutions is a welcome addition to our farm and food industries. We are eager to supply talent and business resources that will help them grow.”

“The Illinois Farm Bureau is pleased that Syngenta has chosen Illinois for a major new seeds office,” said bureau president Richard Guebert Jr. “Agriculture is vitally important to the economy of Illinois and the entire Midwest. For a major agricultural technology business like Syngenta to open a key office in our state is excellent news for our farmers and the agricultural sector.”

Syngenta currently operates four facilities in Illinois, with more than 150 full-time employees and a $16 million payroll. A seed conditioning center in Pekin was established in 1911 and celebrated a century of continual operation seven years ago.