Product line performance: Seeds
Seeds has shown strong growth, with acquisitions enhancing its performance in 2005 and its presence in Field Crops seeds, in particular corn, soybean and other oilseeds. In the consumer-oriented area of Vegetables and Flowers, Syngenta is a world-leader in many crops. The advanced seed breeding capabilities of Syngenta are underpinned by the richness of the company’s germplasm.
Syngenta Field Crops include corn, soybean, sugar beet, cereals, sunflower and oilseed rape. Syngenta sells field crops through its major brands NK®, GARST®, GOLDEN HARVEST® and HILLESHÖG®. The company has a strong position across the field crops market. Syngenta is the world’s leading supplier of sunflower seed, and the third largest of corn and soybeans.
Syngenta provides growers with more than 1,000 different field crop varieties. In 2005, the company’s drive for innovation and tailored solutions generated over 200 new products. Each developed to meet specific needs, they enabled growers all over the world to raise yields further.
The company’s ability to market high-quality germplasm continues to provide an important competitive edge, for example in the US corn belt. In the USA, Syngenta successfully integrated the GARST® and GOLDEN HARVEST® brands acquired during 2004. The company is now enhancing its Seeds offer to US growers through an expanded choice of biotechnology traits.
Syngenta seed varieties offer benefits to growers, processors and consumers. The company’s development work focuses on improved agronomic properties as well as applications for food, animal feed and renewable fuels.
Sales of corn and soybean grew across all regions: GARST® and GOLDEN HARVEST® made a successful first year contribution in the USA and market share was maintained; growth excluding these acquisitions was 20 percent1. In oilseeds, sales of NK® sunflower were up strongly, with gains in Eastern Europe benefiting from increased demand for biodiesel. Sugarbeet sales also increased in Europe.
Syngenta is the world leader in flowers and the second largest provider of vegetable seeds.
The company sells vegetables under its S&G® and ROGERS® brands. The range includes tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, cabbage, sweet corn, peppers, melons, watermelons and beans. Syngenta has an integrated global technology network focusing on 14 major crops. The company’s development program produces over 140 new varieties each year.
Syngenta now fully owns the fresh produce company, Dulcinea, in the USA. In Europe, recent successful launches of branded products include the Solinda™ watermelon, Toscanella™ and Kumato™ tomatoes.
S&G® Flowers continues to build on its global market leadership in seeds, cuttings and young plants. A wide choice of flowers with strong visual appeal is crucial to continuing success in satisfying consumer demand. Excellence in the supply chain contributes to further growth.
After a slow start to the year due to poor weather in Europe, vegetables sales showed a marked recovery in the second half, with S&G® reinforcing its strength in tomatoes. Sales in the emerging markets of Latin America and Asia Pacific continued to expand rapidly. In fresh produce, sales of watermelon and cantaloupe again showed strong growth in the USA and initial launches took place in Europe.
For the full year sales of S&G® flowers were lower in a weak market, although recovered somewhat in the second half.
 Zou Qingmei, fruit seller, China |
