Canada - Syngenta Seeds moves to licensing model with a new brand for conventional soybeans

Date:02-09-2023

Syngenta Seeds announced the move to a licensing model for its conventional, high-protein soybeans to meet customer and end-use market demand more effectively.

For the 2024 growing season and beyond, NK brand conventional soybeans will be sold under a new brand and distributed by two licensees – Hensall Co-op and Jackson Seed Service. Syngenta Seeds will provide market-leading genetics to these distributors who will manage seed production and help shape variety offering.

″We’re continually looking for opportunities to grow, improve, and support our customers. Evolving our go-to-market approach for high-protein soybeans will better serve growers as well as end-users,″ says Dan Wright, Head of Syngenta Seeds. ″Working with these distributors allows for the most flexible production model that will deliver the varieties growers and end-users want. We remain committed to high-protein soybeans through our breeding effort, stewardship activities, and helping to grow the overall market.″

Wright says the decision to evolve to a licensing model required careful evaluation with extensive input from stakeholders over the past year. ″Putting seed production decisions closer to end-users was a key opportunity voiced by the industry. In a market where acres fluctuate, a licensing model offers flexibility and allows for enhanced seed supply stability and planning. By listening to that feedback, we developed a new approach to give the market what they want.″

As for Syngenta, this new model allows for future growth opportunities in high-protein genetics.

″With this new go-to-market approach, the focus on high-protein soybeans will continue to be very high, which is very exciting for our breeding program. We have a robust pipeline and I look forward to continue breeding and commercializing successful varieties for this market, which Syngenta has led for over 35 years in Canada,″ says David Lee, Breeding Project Lead for Syngenta Seeds. ″It is great to continue to help Canadian soybean growers get high-yielding varieties to grow on their farms.″

Syngenta Seeds will unveil the new brand this summer. For the 2024 growing season, growers can choose from seven conventional soybeans distributed by Hensall Co-op and Jackson Seed Service. Syngenta will continue offering a full range of NK traited soybean varieties and corn hybrids, sold through the NK dealer network.