The role of Agrochemical industry in the sustainability of ... · Syngenta is a world-leading agribusiness committed to sustainable agriculture through innovative research and technology

Germán Canomanuel. 18 October 2006

The role of Agrochemical industry in the sustainability of olive oil production

Córdoba, 18th October 2006


SYNGENTA: world leader in crop protection

• more than 19.000 people in over 90 countries• Sales 2005: US $ 8,100 million

In Spain:

Syngenta Agro

Syngenta Seeds: Research, development and production y production of high yield seeds

Agrochemical products for agricultural use

Beneficial Insects for Pest Control

Who we are


Syngenta

Leader of the plant protection market in olives

Market Share in olives 25%

sales annual value. 2004


An experience of years in soil conservation

Leader in Sustainable Agriculture in olives


What are we looking for in Conservation Agriculture

STRENGTHEN OUR POSITION IN THE MARKET

– Complete portfolio and expertise: commercial benefit to our products.

– Responsible Product Stewardship: through all the product lifecycle.

ATTRACTIVE OFFER TO THE FARMER

– The practice of sustainable agriculture must make economic sense

– Profitability: at least similar productions, lower costs.

– Promotion of best agronomical practices

A SOCIALLY VIABLE AGRICULTURE: BETTER USE OF NATURAL RESOURCES

– Increase yield from existing farmland

– Soil and water protection

– Increase of biodiversity

Syngenta is a world-leading agribusiness committed to sustainable agriculture through innovative research and technology.

The adoption of the Sustainable Agriculture balanced approach is part of our strategy, and is essential for our own long-term sustainability.


What are we looking for in Conservation Agriculture

In summary Syngenta recognizes the importance of Sustainable Agriculture to farmers, to the environment, to this and future generations, and to the continued success of our own business. Therefore we focus our contribution on:

• food security, safety and quality • productivity and innovation • adoption of sustainable agricultural practices • product stewardship • access to knowledge and technology • stakeholder dialogue and partnership


Syngenta activities in Sustainable agriculture worldwide

Modern scientific and technical Solutions developed by Syngenta and many collaborative partners around the world, Syngenta currently runs 20 water projects, 15 on soil, 19 on integrated crop

management/IPM and 14 on biodiversity. The following examples illustrate their extensive scope:CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE

– SOWAP Soil and Water Protection, Life project. Europe

– PROTERRA: Soil and Water Protection, Life project. Europe

– Doñana and Sustainable Wetlands, Spain

– No tillage training programs in China, Colombia, etc.

– ICM training management in The Philippines

BIODIVERSITY

– Operation Bumblebee, UK

– Honeybee demonstration farming, France

– SAFFIE, Sustainable arable farming , UK.

– Ducks unlimited, USA

WATER PROTECTION

– Ecoquetzal, forest protection in Guatemala

– Working watersheds in the USA

– Agua Viva in Brasil

– Water courses and gorundwater risk mitigation Stewardship programs all around the world

INTEGRATED CROP MANAGEMENT

– Programs to introduce best farming practices and techniques: application, disease models, benefitialpredators, etc.

SAFE USE AND MEDICAL STEWARDSHIP

– Safe use of products implementation through stewardship programs in all the world


Operation Bumblebee: managing biodiversity

A model of Syngenta approach to Sustainable Agriculture

Agricultural environment is nota “natural” system and has to be properly managed.

There is a tendency to degradation if no actions are taken (e.g. Set aside and erosion).

- Agriculture is an important modelling factor of landscape.- Farmers are the managers and have to play a key role in environmental protection.- Wildlife habitats can only be successfully managed if considered part of the farming activity



From Quantity to Quality

The improvement on the efficiency of agriculture in the last 50 years has driven to a significant decrease of wildlife in rural areas.

A good example of this is the situation with bumblebee populations in the UK:

• 70% reduction in Bombus populations in the last 30 years.

• Lost of nectar food resources and nesting sites.• One species disappeared and 3 on the verge of

extinction



Habitat quality and variety: the key factors to increase biodiversity

Objectives:

To put back the necessary habitat to bumblebees along with butterflies and other insects that thrive on pollen and nectar.

Creating a patchwork of friendly places, generally in unproductive farmland areas, field edges, low yielding soils, corners, etc.

Provide farmers and advisors with the training, skills and technical support to achieve it.

To improve the role of farmers as managers of environment preservation.

To provide scientific data to support environmental actions.



The result of a partnership collaboration

Sponsored by Syngenta, Unileverand Defra (UK Government)

Farmed Environment Company (FEC)

Centre for Ecology & Hidrology(CEH)

Earthwatch Institute (Operation Bumblebee)

Operation bumblebee was built on the experience of the Buzz Project, set up to scientifically assess environmental options for farmers

The project has demonstrated that pro-active management of dedicated environmental areas will achieve far greater results for biodiversity than wide-scale de-intensification of farm production.


Other Syngenta environmental projects in Europe


4. Partners of a 3 year LIFE project “Sustainable Wetlands”

Syngenta Agro Programs in Conservation Agriculture

1. Members of the “Spanish Association of Conservation Agriculture. AEAC.SV

2. Members of the “European Conservation Agriculture Federation” ECAF

5. Yearly activities with several local Conservation Agriculture Organizations

6. PROTERRA PROJECT: Two sites in Spain

3. Partners of a 3 year LIFE project “Sustainable Doñana ”

7. Bird Risk Assessment evaluation in crops


2ª JORNADA IBEROAMERICANA DE AGRICULTURA DE CONSERVACIÓN


more than 2,000 farmers


DOÑANA Project

Technique Evaluation:• Several kinds of covers• Different management techniques• Impact on biodiversity, etc.

Demonstrative plots with several techniques of soil management (weed covers). (300 Ha in 3 years)

Training to farmers on soil management techniques in meetings, conferences and field visits.


Study and apply environmentally friendly agricultural techniques that contribute to a sustainable agriculture in the area of the project, with the aim to reduce the supply of sediments due to erosion in the National Park of Doñana.


Total Budget: 789,693 €

Life Program Support: 394,797 €

Syngenta Financial Contribution: 36,000 €

• Technical Direction of Soil management activities

• Farmer technical education and training.

LIFE Project: 1st July 2001 – 30th June 2004

Other Syngenta Support:

Estimated value (project budget):

25,000 €

DOÑANA Project



AGRICULTURAL INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT IN THE SURROUNDINGS OF COMMUNITY IMPORTANCE WETLANDS

SUSTAINABLE WETLANDSSUSTAINABLE WETLANDS



OBJECTIVESPromote the use of new

agronomic techniques for a sustainable management of the

natural resources in the surroundings of wetlands with a

high ecological and environmental value

• Erosion can be reduced using the right techniques• In a profitable way to the farmer


SUSTAINABLE WETLANDSSUSTAINABLESUSTAINABLE WETLANDSWETLANDS


Total Budget: 1.087.450 €LIFE Program Support: 541.255 € (50%)

Syngenta Contribution: 196,000 €

Life Project: 1 October 2004 – 30 September 2007

• Direct Economical Support (60,000 €)• Technical direction on soil management.• Farmers training.• Project dissemination


SUSTAINABLE WETLANDSSUSTAINABLE WETLANDSSUSTAINABLE WETLANDS


Evaluation of the potential risk of erosion in farming plots: Virtual Decision System

• Through a Geographical Information System (GIS).• Allows to determine the sustainability of different agricultural

practices and crop alternatives.• Allows to determine the expected erosion values through the

simulation of different agronomical situations. (USLE equation)• Support tool to take decisions based on a quick analysis of different

alternatives.• Fully functional for the area of the project, completed database

(climatic, edaphologic, etc. digital maps)• Very visual results in maps.




Wheat - SunflowerEvaluation of the potential risk of erosion in farming plots: Virtual Decision System




Wheat – Sugar-beet

Evaluation of the potential risk of erosion in farming plots: Virtual Decision System






Partnership collaboration with CSIC- Instituto de Agricultura Sostenible

Syngenta weed cover management system

Traditional crop

Reservoirs

Evaluation of different soil management systems:

Mowed spontaneous weed cover


Principal Investigator: Dr. José A. Gómez

• Soil erosion• Run off water• Soil Humidity• Weather conditions




and rain finally comes ...




Evaluation of results

Erosion

Run off

Soil Humidity


Syngenta model for Sustainable Olive oil production

from ...



to :



Organic farming does not meet requirements for a sustainable production.

Weed Covers are the key technique to be successfully developed.

Management of a range of low environmental risk herbicides is necessary.

We trust on product registration requirements and GAPs to be environmentally safe.

but if not …we are the first to stop sales (TBA and surface water risk)

Based on IPM Olive with some variations

TRADITIONAL WEED COVER

Lost of Humidity

Soil Compactation

Weed MulchingErosion PreventionMulching effectSoil BiologySoil FertilityWater BalanceInfiltrationLower CO2 emissionsEnergy Saving



Syngenta is committed to continuously improving farming and to Sustainable Agriculture. We deliver our contribution in the following ways:

1. The adoption of the Sustainable Agriculture balanced approach is part of our strategy, and is essential for our own long-term sustainability. In practice this means to engage for a better use of resources and for the economic viability of farming. This is achieved thanks to improved inputs for agricultural production, dissemination of environmentally friendly practices, and sharing of expertise and intellectual property. Improved inputs from Syngenta are seeds with higher efficiency and crop protection products with better activity and improved human and environmental safety profiles.

2. Operational projects together with farmers and dedicated partners from governmental and non-governmental organizations and from the food industry. These projects, based on reciprocal trust of the partners, support the development of an integrated long-term solution, addressing the economic as well as the environmental and social issues.

3. The Syngenta Sustainable Agriculture Foundation. The work of the Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture focuses on poverty-oriented agricultural research and development. The three areas of work are scientific analysis and publications, contribution to international policy and supporting development initiative. The Syngenta Foundation has been accepted as a member of the CGIARorganization, whose research is only oriented to improve staple crops for developing countries.

Corporate Social Responsibility report


We are committed to contributing to sustainable development and work with other businesses, civil society organisations and governments towards achieving this goal. We recognise this as a commercial imperative as we will only be able to maximise shareholder value and prosper in the long term if we operate in a more sustainable way.

Environmental & Social report



A PARTNERSHIP MODEL FOR A SUCCESSFUL APPROACH

Farming group

PRO

JEC

T A

GR

EEM

ENT

AG supplies industry

ResearchAcademicOfficial Services

Food industry

Plant Protection

AG purchase industry

Institutions

COMMITMENT WITH SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

Sustainable Agriculture Protocol Brand

Commercial Benefits

Protocol brand certification?

?

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The role of Agrochemical industry in the sustainability of ... · Syngenta is a world-leading agribusiness committed to sustainable agriculture through innovative research and technology