Innovation

Bridging sustainability with productivity

Biologicals are gaining traction in agriculture as they offer a way to support profitable crop yields whilst promoting sustainable practices to meet the changing demands of modern agriculture. These products enhance plant growth and resilience, leading to better productivity without the negative environmental impact associated with some traditional farming practices.

Meeting the demand from food production and end consumers

By 2050, farmers will need to grow 50% more crops, in a sustainable way, to ensure enough safe and affordable food for everyone. Farmers face a number of challenges to achieve this goal, including pressures from climate change, increased regulations, reduced efficacy due to resistance, and economic factors.
 

Shifting from reactive to proactive

The agricultural industry faces a decline in available chemical tools due to regulatory and resistance issues. Biologicals represent a proactive solution, improving plant health and soil conditions, enabling farmers to anticipate and prevent problems rather than merely reacting to them. This proactive approach is key to creating a resilient and sustainable agricultural system.

Optimising resources

For numerous reasons, the availability and effectiveness of many traditional farm inputs are being challenged. This may be due to cost, soil health, legislation, climate change and availability. 

Advancements in research and development

The science behind biologicals is rapidly advancing, leading to the development of new and more effective products. Syngenta Biologicals has unrivalled science platforms across all relevant biological technologies and continues to invest in research for the long-term future of biological products.
 

Syngenta Biologicals refers to a division within Syngenta that specialises in the development and commercialisation of biological solutions for crop protection and plant/soil health and resilience. This division is focused on providing innovative, nature-based products and solutions which work in harmony with the environment and the plant, helping growers to improve their crop health and productivity.

Biologicals from Syngenta include a range of products such as biostimulants, biofertilisers and biocontrols. These products are derived from natural substances, organisms, and compounds. They are part of an integrated approach to plant and soil health that offers a sustainable way to grow crops to meet consumers’ increasing demands about the way food is produced.

The commitment to biologicals is part of our broader strategy to offer integrated crop solutions (ICM) that help farmers sustainably meet the demands of an ever-growing population, whilst preserving the environment. By investing in research and development in this field, Syngenta Biologicals is at the forefront of advancing agricultural practices that are both effective and eco-friendly.

Chemical crop protection and biological crop management are two distinct approaches to maintaining crop health and productivity, each with its own methods and benefits.

• Chemical crop protection primarily involves the use of synthetic pesticides and herbicides to control pests, diseases, and weeds. These chemicals are scientifically formulated to target specific threats and are known for their quick action and effectiveness. 
• Biological crop management, on the other hand, utilises natural organisms, such as beneficial insects, microbes, and plant extracts, to manage pests and diseases. This approach also includes the use of biostimulants and biofertilisers to enhance plant growth and soil health. They can reduce the reliance on chemical inputs, minimise environmental impact, and many can be used in conventional as well as organic farming systems. 

In summary, the main difference between chemical crop protection and biological crop management lies in their respective approaches: chemical methods use synthetic compounds for immediate and targeted action, while biological methods employ natural processes and organisms to promote long-term crop and ecosystem health. Both approaches have a role to play in modern agriculture, and an integrated crop management strategy often combines elements of both to achieve effective and sustainable crop production.

Abiotic stress refers to the various environmental factors that can negatively impact the growth, health, and productivity of your plants. Unlike biotic stress, which is caused by living organisms like pests and diseases, abiotic stress is caused by non-living factors. Here are some common types of abiotic stress that you might encounter on your farm:

• Temperature Extremes: Both frost and heat waves can damage plant tissues, affecting growth and yield.
• Nutrient imbalance: Essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are critical for plant growth. A deficiency can lead to stunted growth, poor root development, and a weak plant structure. Excessive nutrients can also be harmful, causing toxicity that can inhibit plant growth and lead to plant death.
• Poor soil conditions: An imbalance in nutrients can change the soil pH, making it too acidic or alkaline, which can affect the availability of other nutrients and the microbial activity in the soil. Soil microbes play a crucial role in nutrient cycling. An imbalance can disrupt these communities, affecting soil structure and fertility.
• Water Stress: Too little water (drought) or too much (flooding) can lead to issues like root rot or reduced oxygen supply to roots.
• Salinity: High salt concentrations in the soil can disrupt water uptake and nutrient balance in plants.
• Heavy Metals: Contamination by heavy metals can be toxic to plants, reducing growth and potentially leading to crop failure.
• Wind: Strong winds can physically damage plants, causing lodging of the crop as well as soil erosion, and lead to water loss through increased transpiration.

Abiotic stress can be a major limiting factor in crop production. However, there's a growing interest in using biologicals as a tool to enhance crop resilience against these stresses, so you can maintain crop production under sub-optimal conditions.

Nutrient use efficiency (NUE) is a term that's gaining importance in modern farming practices. It refers to how well your crops can absorb and utilise nutrients from the soil to grow, develop, and produce yield. High NUE means that plants make the most of the fertilisers you apply, leading to several benefits such as improved yields, cost savings, reduced risk of leaching and volatilisation, and soil fertility. 

Biofertilisers containing nitrogen-fixing bacteria can contribute to Nutrient Use Efficiency. These microorganisms form symbiotic relationships with plants converting atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, a form that plants can readily use.

By introducing nitrogen-fixing bacteria through biofertilisers, you can:

• Reduce Chemical Fertiliser Dependency: These bacteria naturally supplement your soil's nitrogen content, reducing the need for synthetic fertilisers.
• Improve soil health: A healthy soil supports a wide dynamic diversity of beneficial microbes, these in turn, directly or indirectly. Lead to improvements in soil organic matter, soil structure, fertility, and the ability of crops to be more resilient to stress. A weak soil will have a lower microbial diversity and therefore ability to support sustainable and profitable crop production.
• Increase Crop Yields: With more accessible nitrogen, plants can produce more chlorophyll, leading to better photosynthesis and, ultimately, improved crop yields.
• Reduce risk of leaching: By lowering the amount of synthetic nitrogen needed, you also decrease the risk of nitrogen leaching into waterways, preventing pollution, and protecting local ecosystems.
• Ensure a Constant Supply of Nitrogen: The bacteria is “always on”, meaning that it fills the gap between what your crop needs and what it gets.