Self-Syngenta expects the prohibition of most pesticides

Syngenta acts like a Barometer for the development of agriculture: The agricultural chemistry group is in need of ten years for the development of new pesticides against weeds, fungi and harmful insects. Therefore, he must be able, by regulations, certain market-wide advance estimate.

Now he sees the sign on the Green: "We need to explore stands products with less return, because of the change in social acceptance," says the Sustainability Manager of the group, Alexandra Brand. You want to be in order, especially to the European market, which is increasingly environmentally-friendly agriculture. Because the group is alerted.

Syngenta made in the past year a total turnover of 13.5 billion Swiss francs, most of which, however, outside of Europe. The emphasis of the group lies on North - and South America and its huge arable and pasture land. The global agricultural center of the world, what is shown by the fact that Syngenta has taken two weeks ago, the Brazilians, and Ex-Petrobras CEO Pedro Parente is new in its Board of Directors is still, though, the group heard in 2017, the Chinese Chemchina. However, Syngenta is afraid of the changes in Europe. Why?

"Of 1000 substances may remain 300"

The change in Europe is likely to have a global impact. The popular initiative "For a Switzerland without synthetic pesticides"not only provides for a ban on their use in Switzerland. But she also wants to prohibit the Import of treated food, resulting in the restriction in Switzerland would also have an impact beyond their borders. This is also the reason why Syngenta fear of the new EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced Green Deal. Because he could change beyond Europe, the use of pesticides.

"We need to prepare for the future," says Xavier Leprince, is at Syngenta sustainability in the European business, and how to fire at the same time, also for the authorities responsible. He goes from a drastic change of ends: In the next five years, two-thirds of the currently approved active substances for pesticides should be banned in the EU. "Of the over 1000 substances, 200 to 300 are going to stay," says Leprince. Now be it so, that for four of the substances that the EU takes from the market, a new descendant.

Lower limit values for bananas and pineapple

With the substances, which the EU prohibits, are allowed to be treated no bananas, pineapple or other foods that are imported from your. In any case, you should not have high residues of the active substances. Leprince believes that the limits will be limited for this purpose, then even more. And exactly this is the reason why Syngenta is doing now, to search for new pesticides, fungicides and herbicides, the less residues.

Without a new injection of funds, there is no solutions against pests, and yields and crop quality would suffer, stresses, Syngenta.

The lead, it needs to launch new pesticides is considerable. Syngenta must test in its largest research center in SteinAG between 100’000 and 160’000 substances in order to find a new active substance. This must be on its impact on the environment tested. The research will take up to four years, the accreditation process takes approximately five to six years. The research and development costs for a new injection of funds amount to an average of about $ 280 million, as the group indicates.

Created: 29.11.2019, 18:44 PM