Going into its second
year with Agrisure™ Corn Traits,
Syngenta reports that
the Agrisure offering is moving the company towards its goal
of becoming a new choice in biotech seed for growers.
Agrisure genetically
modified traits for corn were introduced globally by
Syngenta in 2005 in NK® Brand, Garst®
and Golden Harvest® brands and through the
GreenLeaf Genetics™ licensing business of Syngenta, bringing
a new level of choice to growers.
“We are pleased with the
acceptance of Agrisure traits by corn growers after one year
on the market, but this is just a start,” said Jack Bernens,
head of the Syngenta Agrisure business. “We are projecting a
strong surge for Agrisure over the next two years,
particularly with the introduction in 2007 of our new trait
for corn rootworm control, along with new stacks of traits.”
Global corn and soybean
seed sales for Syngenta more than doubled to $880 million in
2005, representing 11 percent of the company’s
record-setting $8.1 billion in global sales.
The Syngenta Agrisure
lineup includes Agrisure CB, which protects corn plants from
damage by European corn borer; Agrisure GT, which provides
tolerance to glyphosate herbicides; and Agrisure GT/CB, a
stack of the two traits.
Syngenta’s corn rootworm
event, MIR604, is in final stages of approval by the
Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration and
Environmental Protection Agency. Syngenta expects to market
the corn rootworm trait as Agrisure RW and stacks of the
trait through elite hybrids of its Garst, Golden Harvest,
and NK brands to growers in the U.S. market for planting in
the 2007 season.
Syngenta estimates the
value of the current trait market in corn at $400 million
and to approach $1 billion by 2010. The company expects
Agrisure traits to represent a significant percentage of
this total value.
“Corn growers are looking
ahead to more genetically modified traits, individually and
in stacks,” Bernens said. “Traits are just part of the
overall agronomics of corn production, and growers are
looking to us for the complete package of genetics, traits
and crop protection chemistry. That’s why Syngenta offers
the AgriEdge™ corn program in conjunction with Agrisure
traits to assure top production on their acres.”
AgriEdge provides growers
flexibility to choose from a wide range of crop protection
products for insect control and crop tolerance to
herbicides. When using Agrisure GT for crop tolerance to
glyphosate herbicides, growers can use any brand of
glyphosate they choose.
Bernens emphasizes that
the broad base of quality germplasm available to the seed
companies of Syngenta and licensed to other seed companies
by GreenLeaf Genetics underpins the Agrisure traits
portfolio. Syngenta is accelerating the pace of
introgression of traits into its best germplasm.
“Traits make our best
genetics better,” Bernens said. “With Agrisure traits in
quality germplasm, we are providing growers with what they
want most – more choices and flexibility in the way they
grow corn.”
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 2005 were approximately $8.1 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).
*
MIR604, the corn rootworm event, is not currently registered
for sale or use in the United States and is therefore not
being offered for sale. This news release does not
constitute an offer for sale. This product will not be
available for sale until the EPA has approved registration
and all necessary authorizations have been granted.
Agrisure™,
AgriEdge™, GreenLeaf Genetics™ and NK®
Brand are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company.
Garst® is
a registered trademark of Garst Seed Company.
Golden Harvest® is
a registered trademark of Golden Harvest Seed Company.
