Safety in research and development
Syngenta has a deep understanding of plants, based on many decades of research and development. Around 5,000 employees at five main R&D centers and numerous field stations around the world are dedicated to raising crop yields and improving quality.
In
2009, we invested $960 million in R&D, again placing us among the
industry leaders. With projects spanning crop protection, seeds and biotechnology,
Syngenta has a uniquely diverse platform. This enables us to co-operate
across traditional business lines and provide ideal combinations of genetic
and chemical solutions to the challenge of raising growers’ productivity.
More information on our R&D activities, innovations, seeds varieties and life-cycle management can be found throughout the website. See products & brands
Our objectives
Implement guidelines on regulatory compliance and train employees handling
regulated material
Our approach
Biotechnology is subject to extremely strict regulation. We require our
employees to adopt strict safety measures in the development of our products
to ensure the safety of consumers and the environment.
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Read more about our performance and contribution on our Annual Report 2009 website. |
- Safety in developing new seed varieties
- Safety in developing new crop protection products
- Animals in research
- Patents and intellectual property
Safety in developing new
seed varieties
Syngenta
uses a range of different techniques to develop new varieties of seeds
with desirable characteristics such as improved vigor, drought-resistance
or built-in protection from pests. Some of these involve genetic modification,
others use sophisticated methods to make traditional breeding more effective.
For more information, see biotechnology
and What Syngenta
thinks about.
Biotechnology is subject to extremely strict regulation internationally,
and we conduct extensive research trials to assess the effects of GM crops.
Syngenta complies with all relevant regulations on biotechnology and has
a quality management system modeled on the ISO 9001 standard. Field trial
operators are required to follow rigorous standard operating procedures.
Appropriate measures are always taken to protect ecosystems and ensure
the sustainability of crops.
Safety in developing new
crop protection products
Human safety and environmental impacts are two of the three key criteria
for deciding which crop protection products to take forward from initial
research, together with economic benefits. For every active ingredient
that eventually makes it onto the farmer’s field, some 40,000 others
do not progress beyond the initial stages of development. This is often
because they do not meet sustainability criteria. Around a third of the
investments in research and development goes into evaluating the environmental
and human safety of crop protection products.1
All our products undergo extensive trials to receive regulatory approval,
and research data is evaluated by independent authorities. We gather detailed
information on how chemicals degrade in plants, soil and water, and their
distribution and speed of movement in the environment. This helps us assess
potential environmental impacts. We also conduct extensive trials to assess
human safety, sometimes necessitating the use of animals in research.
Animals in research
We understand that the use of animals in research is an issue of public
concern. Syngenta seeks alternatives to animal testing wherever possible
and uses the minimum number of animals necessary. However, the use of
animals in research remains essential to ensure a high level of safety
for people, animals and the environment, and is often mandated by law.
We support the UK National Center for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs), and chair the Center’s Regulatory Toxicology Forum. Syngenta is a member of the European Partnership for Alternative Approaches to Animal Testing and its industry steering group. For more information see What Syngenta thinks about.
Patents and intellectual property
Protection of intellectual property is essential to drive innovation.
Patents ensure that long-term investment in research can be recovered.
They enable the publication of scientific discovery and progress, stimulating
peer research in other organizations around the world. For more information
patents and intellectual property, please see What
Syngenta thinks about.
1Statistics published by IVA, industriverband Agrar: www.iva.de
