Sustainability: implications of global
trends for U.S. production agriculture
Toward Sustainable Agricultural Systems in the 21st Century
Mike Johnson, Syngenta Crop Protection
September 16, 2010
Syngenta at a glance
● A uniquely broad product portfolio
- A leader in Crop Protection
- Third in high-value commercial seeds
● World-class science
- $1 billion Research and Development (R&D) investments
- 4,000 people in R&D around the world
● Global reach and experience
- Over 24,000 employees in more than 90 countries
● Commitment to working with customers
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Demand is driven by population growth and land scarcity
World population
People fed per hectare
(2.47 acres = 1 hectare)
2030
2030
>5 people
>8 billion
2005
>4 people
2005
6.5 billion
1950
2.5 billion
Source: FAO, World Bank statistics, Syngenta
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1960
2 people
Challenges for global agriculture
Basket: corn, soybean, wheat, rice1, %
250
Yield
● Huge rise in demand
200
● Demand drivers: population,
Acreage
economic, biofuels
150
● Limited farmland
100
1960
2008
● Decreasing water supplies
World population growth2, bn
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We must grow more
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from less
6
4
2
0
1950
1970
1990
2010
2030
2050
Only sustainable approach is to
unlock the potential of plants
through innovation
1 Source: USDA
2 Source: Based on US Census Bureau International Data Base, July 2007
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Syngenta sustainability insights --- what it will take
● Transparent, outcome-based sustainability
metrics
● Productivity & efficiency at the core
● A systems approach and understanding the
diversity of agricultural systems
● Innovative integrated solutions of our CP,
seeds, traits & services
● Continuous improvement over time
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A major challenge is the complex & confusing area of
specifications for the sustainability of agriculture
Selected
Examples
Outcome-based Metrics
Value-based Indices
Practice-based Standards:
Sustainability Index
Standard Methods for Analyses
There is an urgent need for transparency & consistency in
measuring progress towards sustainable outcomes
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How sustainability is ultimately defined & measured is
critically important
Practice-based Standards
● Prescribe specific practices &
technologies
● Uncoupled from productivity &
other desired outcomes
● Limited incentive for
continuous improvement
● Narrowly applicable (in or out)
● Trademark license terms can
create disincentive to adoption
Outcome-based Metrics
● No bias for/against specific
practices or technologies
● Reward efficiency (expressed
on a per unit of output basis)
● Incentivize continuous
improvement toward outcomes
● Broadly applicable, transparent
& science-based
● Alignment with emerging
ecosystem service markets
Our ability to feed 9 billion people requires an urgent
transition to outcome-based metrics
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Field to Market is one of the most important
sustainability initiatives in the United States
Field to Market
● A collaborative stakeholder group of producers, agribusinesses, food
and retail companies, and conservation organizations
● Working together to develop a supply-chain system for agricultural
sustainability
● Developing outcomes-based metrics (practice/technology neutral, transparent &
credible science, measures on-farm production outcomes within grower’s control)
● Measuring the environmental, health, and socioeconomic impacts of
agriculture first in the United States
Will provide useful measurement tools & resources for
growers and the supply chain that track & achieve
continuous improvement against key outcomes
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Convened and is facilitated by The Keystone Center, a neutral, nonprofit organization founded in 1975.
Steering Committee Members & Participants
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American Farm Bureau Federation
American Farmland Trust
American Soybean Association
Bayer CropScience
Bunge
Cargill
Conservation International
Conservation Technology Information Center
Cotton Incorporated
CropLife America
CropLife International
Dairy Management Inc.
Darden Restaurants
DuPont
Environmental Defense Fund
Fleishman-Hillard
General Mills
Grocery Manufacturers of America
John Deere
Kellogg Company
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Land O’Lakes
Manomet Center for Conservation Science
Mars, Incorporated
Monsanto Company
National Association of Conservation Districts
National Association of Wheat Growers
National Corn Growers Association
National Cotton Council of America
National Potato Council
Syngenta
The Fertilizer Institute
The Irrigation Association
The Nature Conservancy
United Soybean Board
Univ. of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison College of
Agricultural and Life Sciences
• USA Rice Federation
• World Resources Institute
• World Wildlife Fund
Example: Summary of results for maize
Field to Market
Maize (Corn) Efficiency Indicators
(Per Unit of Output, Index 2000 = 1)
The smaller the
spidergram the
less the impact
Progress has been
made since 1987.
More is needed
(Values are expressed in 5-year averages)
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Using the Fieldprint calculator
Field to Market
 Intuitive
 Doable
 Confidential
 Interactive
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Fieldtomarket.org
But how to create innovative solutions ?
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Corn, soybean: nitrogen use efficiency, drought tolerance
traits
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Crop Protection: technologies promoting efficiencies over just
pest control
Endurance and vigor boosters
Untreated
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1
Fungicide
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Untreated
1
Water uptake facilitators
Seed
Treatment
Plant Growth Regulator
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● 5-10% yield increase
● 10% less water
● Stronger, healthier
plants
● 25% yield increase
Testing drip-irrigation on a global scale
CORN
VEGETABLES
CANE
CITRUS
RICE
COFFEE
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Sustainability and Syngenta’s Role
● Collaborate in the development of outcome-based metrics and
measurement approaches (performance-based versus input/practicebased).
● Provide tools that enable growing more from less land, water, energy
- Continued investment in R&D
- Integrated technology solutions aligned with
understanding of agronomic systems
- Build on IPM tools
● Help growers measure, record & verify progress
- Field to Market Tools
- Farm record keeping programs
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www.growmorefromless.com
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©2010 Syngenta Crop Protection, Inc., 410 Swing Rd. Greensboro, NC 27409.
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important conditions of sale, including limitations of warranty and remedy.
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owners.
For more information, visit www.syngentacropprotection.com, www.farmassist.com or call the Syngenta Customer Center at
866-SYNGENT(A) (796-4368).
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