Market Facts & Figures
| Global agricultural challenges | Syngenta contribution |
|---|---|
| World population is expected to grow by 1.7 billion to more than 8 billion over the next 25 years. Around 40 percent of the world's population depend on agriculture for their livelihoods | In 2007, Syngenta invested $830 million in Research & Development, equivalent to 9 percent of sales, achieving more than 300 new registrations for crop protection products and around 500 for commercial seed varieties |
| Due to urbanization and changing diets, calorie demand per capita will grow. Population and diet change will increase demand for food and fiber by around 35 percent. As arable land is limited, yields must continuously improve; this can only be achieved through technology and innovation | Syngenta meets growers' needs for higher productivity through continuous innovation resulting in more food and fiber produced from limited arable acres |
| Furthermore, the use of crops to substitute fossil fuels is increasing sharply. In 2006, about 20 percent of US corn was used for fuel production - a 300 percent rise since 2000.This is further intensifying demand | Crops grown utilizing Syngenta high-performing seeds and crop protection products are enabling more efficient biofuel production. Syngenta is also developing novel corn hybrids specifically tailored for this new application |
| Water is a scarce resource. One third of the world's population has insufficient access to fresh drinking water and this figure is expected to double by 2035. Irrigated agriculture accounts for around 70 percent of global water consumption | By reducing losses to pests and disease, Syngenta Crop Protection products make irrigation more efficient and help to reduce soil erosion. Syngenta is developing new drought-tolerant crop varieties to bring more land into agriculture |
| Without the use of crop protection products, around 40 percent of the world's crops would be lost to pests | Without Syngenta products, around 80 million tonnes of corn and 40 million tonnes of cereals would be lost to insects, weeds and disease each year |
| Biotechnology in seeds is being rapidly adopted to increase crop productivity and quality. Over the last decade, GM crops have increased from 1.7 million hectares in six countries to 102 million in 22 countries in 2006 | More than 60 percent of Syngenta corn and soybean seed sales contain genetically modified traits; further distinctive novel traits are under development |
Sources: FAO, FAPRI, ISAAA, Phillips McDougall, United Nations, World Bank.
