Syngenta introduces Agrisure™ Advantage corn traits - System offers growers unique combinations and greater flexibility

Syngenta announces the introduction of Agrisure™ Advantage traits for herbicide tolerance and insect protection that bring a higher level of product choice to the marketplace.  Agrisure Advantage features unique combinations that offer corn growers unsurpassed crop protection, management flexibility and yield potential.

For 2005, Agrisure GT Advantage for glyphosate tolerance will be available in select hybrids offered by NK^® and Golden Harvest^®.  Agrisure CB Advantage, for season-long protection against corn borer, will be available in select Garst^® hybrids.  Syngenta has plans to sell Agrisure Advantage traits with performance-proven, commercial germplasm through a broader range of foundation and independent seed companies so that growers will be able to purchase the initial traits and future offerings in the elite hybrids of their choice. 

“Agrisure Advantage gives growers the advantage of selecting the best agronomic package for their farming operation – superior germplasm, high-performing traits and flexible solutions for weed and insect control that match their agronomic practices,” says John Sorenson, head of corn and soybeans for Syngenta Seeds NAFTA.  “The result is more efficient, cost-effective corn production.”

Agrisure Advantage represents a solid platform for future introductions of germplasm, traits, trait stacks and crop protection programs and services that promise to bring even more choices to the marketplace.  In the future, Syngenta plans to offer corn rootworm control and broad lepidopteran pest control under the Agrisure Advantage brand, including unique stacks to meet growers’ production challenges.

 “We have a full pipeline of Agrisure innovations that meet the varied needs of today’s farmer, all backed by the trusted Syngenta name,” Sorenson says.  “Our efforts are focused on delivering the broadest availability of agronomic solutions to the farmer.” 

Syngenta is a world-leading agribusiness committed to sustainable agriculture through innovative research and technology. The company is a leader in crop protection, and ranks third in the high-value commercial seeds market. Sales in 2003 were approximately $6.6 billion. Syngenta employs some 19,000 people in over 90 countries. Syngenta is listed on the Swiss stock exchange (SYNN) and in New York (SYT).

Questions and Answers about Agrisure™ Advantage

Q) What is Agrisure Advantage?

A) Agrisure Advantage is a built-in insect protection and herbicide tolerance system for corn that offers new choices for growers to solve their crop protection needs.  Agrisure Advantage brings more product choices to the marketplace and delivers them in unique combinations to offer growers unsurpassed crop protection, management flexibility and yield potential. 

Q) What traits are available to growers for the 2005 growing season?

A) For the 2005 growing season, hybrids with the Agrisure GT Advantage trait (glyphosate tolerance) will be sold under NK^® and Golden Harvest^® brands.  The Agrisure CB Advantage trait (season-long corn borer protection) will be available in Garst^® hybrids.

Q) What trait is Agrisure GT Advantage and what trait is Agrisure CB Advantage?

A) Agrisure GT Advantage is the brand name for GA21, and Agrisure CB Advantage is the brand name for Bt11.

Q) How is Agrisure Advantage different than currently available herbicide tolerant and insect resistant offerings?

A) Growers will be able to select the best germplasm, traits, seed treatment and weed/pest control solutions that match their agronomic practices.  This provides some very powerful choices for growers.  For example, with Agrisure GT Advantage, growers can choose the weed control program that they want to use and receive a range of assurances and warranties to protect their crop investments. 

Q) What are the key advantages to Agrisure GT Advantage?

A) With Agrisure GT Advantage, growers can plant superior genetics, high-performing traits and still use the weed control program of their choice for uncompromised weed control and unconditional risk assurances, regardless of the herbicide program used.  This results in a higher level of flexibility regardless of the weed management system chosen – whether they’re using a glyphosate herbicide, a residual weed control program or a combination of both. 

Q) What kind of assurances and warranties come with Agrisure GT?

A) Growers can choose from many different weed control programs and risk assurances.  Growers who purchase seed with the Agrisure GT trait receive the following benefits, regardless of which herbicide they use: trait investment protection, crop safety warranty, cost-share protection for volunteer corn, and participation in Syngenta agronomic programs.  For growers who seek additional protection, the following extra assurances and premiums are available depending on the Syngenta herbicide applied: crop investment protection, early weed management assurance and cost control assurances.

Q) How does Agrisure GT help growers comply with Best Weed Management practices?

A) The overuse of any weed control technology opens the door to weed population shifts and/or herbicide resistance.  That’s why it’s important to rotate or use multiple herbicide modes of action in any weed control system.  Agrisure GT Advantage provides growers with many different choices in the modes of action they use in corn, helping them meet weed resistance management guidelines.   This will help ensure the continued benefits of all weed management technologies.

Q) What are the key advantages to Agrisure CB Advantage?

A) Agrisure CB Advantage provides effective control of European corn borer, the most damaging corn pest in the United States and Canada.  The Agrisure CB Advantage trait delivers whole plant, full-season protection against European corn borer, Southwestern corn borer and Southern cornstalk borer, resulting in maximum yield potential.  It also offers enhanced crop performance through better standability, higher test weight and improved plant health.

Q) How is Syngenta bringing the traits to market?

A) Syngenta’s efforts are focused on delivering the broadest availability of the best traits and genetics to seed companies and growers.  In 2005, the initial trait offerings will be sold through the NK, Garst and Golden Harvest brands.  Syngenta expects to sell Agrisure Advantage traits and stacks with performance-proven, commercial germplasm through multiple foundation and independent seed companies so that growers will be able to purchase the traits in high-performing hybrids of their choice. 

Q) Why is Syngenta getting more active in the “traits business?”

A) Syngenta has long been a world-leading agribusiness committed to sustainable agriculture through innovative research and technology.  Syngenta was the first company to bring biotechnology to corn with the launch of Bt corn in 1996.  By adding a further selection of traits, Syngenta is helping to provide more agronomic choices for growers to support productive, profitable crop production.  In addition, Agrisure Advantage supports Syngenta’s corporate goals of leadership, innovation, performance and growth.

Q) What other offerings can we expect from Agrisure Advantage in the future?

A) Agrisure Advantage represents a solid platform for future introductions of germplasm, traits, trait stacks and crop protection programs and services that promise to bring even more choices to the marketplace.  In the future, Syngenta plans to offer corn rootworm control and broad lepidopteran pest control under the Agrisure Advantage brand, including unique stacks to meet growers’ production challenges.

Agrisure™ Advantage, Garst®, Golden Harvest®, NK® and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company.