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News18
22-07-2025
- Business
- News18
Sygenta says Indias unpredictable regulations constrain farm innovation
Mumbai, July 22 (PTI) Swiss crop protection company Syngenta AG on Tuesday said unpredictable regulations in India are constraining agricultural innovation, even as the firm targets to become the world's top biologicals firm in the next few years by leveraging strong performance in the key market. In an interview with PTI, Steven Hawkins, global president of Syngenta Crop Protection, said regulatory uncertainty in India's highly regulated crop protection industry poses challenges for bringing new technologies to farmers. 'We believe that somehow unpredictability of the regulatory system…somehow constrains technology innovation for farmers for agriculture. This is an area where we would like to see (it) improve," Hawkins said. The comments come as Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan recently expressed concerns over unregulated sale of biostimulants, leading to regulatory actions that have disrupted the biologicals sector. Hawkins acknowledged the disruption, but supported establishing a regulated framework. 'It is unfortunate to have a stop sale, and disruption has happened. Farmers do not have access to the products. But I think, alternatively, if we can quickly get to a regulated environment for biologicals going forward, we would support that." Despite the regulatory hurdles, India remains crucial for Syngenta's growth ambitions. Syngenta, currently the world's second-largest biologicals company, expects to capture the top spot globally within the next few years. 'We believe we are already number two globally, and I expect we will be number one biologicals company not only here in India but globally in the next couple of years," Hawkins said. The company plans to launch several new products in India this year, including Tymirium, a nematicide that also functions as a fungicide. This follows the launch of fungicide Adepidyn last year after the introduction of insecticide Plinazolin in the preceding year. The three products are each worth more than USD 1 billion in global sales – a first for the company, Hawkins said, adding that additional products are in the pipeline for registration. Syngenta expects mid-single digit growth in India this year, depending on inflation and monsoon conditions, he added. The company sees India's market dynamics as more favourable than larger markets like the US and Brazil, where inventory issues have been more pronounced. 'Here in India, we saw less of the issue as the market here is more balanced," Hawkins said. The company continues to invest in digital agriculture, with more than 3 million acres on its Cropwise artificial intelligence platform. It plans to deepen integration with local farming practices to enhance yields for small farmers. Syngenta is also leveraging India's Make in India programme, recently opening a seed health laboratory in Telangana. PTI LUX BAL BAL view comments First Published: July 22, 2025, 17:45 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Syngenta eyes global biologicals leadership from India base, cites regulatory hurdles
Swiss crop protection giant Syngenta on Tuesday said it expects to become the world's top biologicals company within the next few years, leveraging its strong performance in India despite regulatory challenges that constrain agricultural innovation. In an interview to PTI, Steven Hawkins, Global President of Syngenta Crop Protection, said the unpredictability of India's regulatory system poses challenges for bringing new technologies to farmers in the country's highly regulated crop-protection industry. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Project Management Management Degree CXO Data Science Operations Management Artificial Intelligence Data Analytics Data Science MCA Finance Healthcare Others Product Management Design Thinking MBA healthcare Technology Leadership Digital Marketing Public Policy Skills you'll gain: Portfolio Management Project Planning & Risk Analysis Strategic Project/Portfolio Selection Adaptive & Agile Project Management Duration: 6 Months IIT Delhi Certificate Programme in Project Management Starts on May 30, 2024 Get Details "We believe that somehow unpredictability of the regulatory system does somehow constrain technology innovation for farmers, for agriculture. This is an area where we would like to see (it) improve," Hawkins said in an interview. Despite these hurdles, India remains a crucial market for the company. "India is a very important market for us. First of all, it is a large market. It is a growing market. Also, it is a market where new technologies can be highly utilized," Hawkins said. Syngenta, currently the world's second-largest biologicals company, has ambitious growth plans for the segment. "We believe we are already number 2 globally and I expect we will be number one biologicals company not only here in India but globally in the next couple of years," Hawkins said. Live Events The comments come as Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan recently expressed concerns over unregulated sale of biostimulants in the country. Hawkins acknowledged the disruption caused by recent regulatory actions but supported establishing a regulated framework. "It is unfortunate to have a stop sale and disruption has happened. Farmers do not have access to the products. But I think, alternatively, if we can quickly get to a regulated environment for biologicals going forward, we would support that," he said. Hawkins said the company plans to launch several new products in India this year, including Tymirium, a novel nematicide that also functions as a fungicide for multiple crops. Last year, Syngenta launched fungicide Adepidyn, following the previous year's launch of broad-spectrum insecticide Plinazolin. Along with Tymirium, these three products are global blockbusters worth more than USD 1 billion each - a first for the company, he said. "We are thrilled that we are able to launch them here in India," Hawkins said, adding that additional products are in the pipeline for registration in coming years. For India's business this year, Syngenta expects mid-single digit growth, though Hawkins noted this depends on inflation and monsoon conditions. The company sees India's market dynamics as more favourable than larger markets like the United States and Brazil, where inventory issues have been more pronounced due to concentrated retail networks. "Here in India, we saw less of the issue as the market here is more balanced," Hawkins said. Syngenta continues to invest in digital agriculture solutions , with more than 3 million acres already on its Cropwise Artificial Intelligence platform. The company plans to deepen integration of this technology with local farming practices to enhance yields for small farmers. "We have already done that to a degree. Now, we can do more," Hawkins said, noting India's technology capabilities provide opportunities to expand the platform further. The company is also leveraging India's Make in India program, recently opening a Seed Health Lab in Telangana as part of its continued investment in the country.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
US regulators move forward on controversial policy change that could pose risks to human health: 'By then it'll be too late'
The United States Environmental Protection Agency is considering the approval of a new pesticide ingredient that contains per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, a class of harmful chemicals. The potential approval has sparked concerns among health and environmental advocates. As The New Lede reported in early May, the EPA announced the proposed registration of cyclobutrifluram, a chemical designed to control pests and diseases in crops such as soybeans, lettuce, cotton, and ornamental plants, per an April EPA news release. Developed by Syngenta, the chemical is being marketed as the active ingredient in the agritech company's new product Tymirium, which is intended to protect plants from parasitic nematodes and fungal diseases. "It will give farmers the freedom to maximize their yields without having to compromise on sustainability," Jon Parr, then-president of global crop protection at Syngenta, said in a 2020 statement. However, environmental groups have urged the EPA to reject the registration of cyclobutrifluram, citing concerns about potential long-term health and ecological impacts since the chemical falls into the PFAS category. This group of chemicals is known to accumulate in human bodies and the environment for decades, possibly centuries. While the EPA says it didn't find any risks to human health or threats to animals when the chemical was used in line with directions, the agency opened a portal for public comments and will consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service before making a final decision. The New Lede reported that opponents of the chemical are concerned its registration will be approved anyway. "We're quickly returning to the age of the 1960s and 1970s, when really persistent pesticides, like DDT, were in wide use," Nathan Donley, the Center for Biological Diversity's environmental health science director, told the outlet. "The legacy of impacts of what the EPA's currently approving won't be known for decades. By then it'll be too late." PFAS have been called "forever chemicals" because natural processes do not easily break them down. They can persist in the environment long after contamination and in human bodies long after exposure. The chemicals have been linked to a slew of health problems, including increased cholesterol, reproductive issues, an increased risk of cancers, and developmental delays. In ecosystems, they can pose similar risks to wildlife and can harm habitats by contaminating air, water, soil, and food sources. Do you worry about having toxic forever chemicals in your home? Majorly Sometimes Not really I don't know enough about them Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. While the EPA designated two widely used PFAS — PFOA and PFOS — as hazardous substances in 2024 and banned 12 PFAS chemicals from nonfood pesticide products in 2022, the agency appears to support approval of this new PFAS-containing pesticide ingredient, according to an April memorandum. Given that PFAS compounds have been detected on around 4,000 farms across the U.S., and many fertilizers used to grow our food contain these chemicals, approving a pesticide that includes them could further contaminate food supplies. Environmental groups such as Toxic Free North Carolina and the Environmental Protection Network submitted petitions to the EPA expressing opposition to the registration of cyclobutrifluram. In its public comment, science, regulatory, and advocacy manager Sara Grantham wrote on behalf of the organization Beyond Pesticides, "PFAS should be banned from all products, and no new chemicals should be approved for use that fall into this class." While the period for public comment appears to have closed, residents may still consider sharing their opinions on the matter with elected officials and voicing support for pro-environment policies that protect human health and fragile habitats. In the meantime, lawmakers in Maryland are considering a sweeping ban on over 1,000 pesticides that contain forever chemicals, and environmental groups in the United Kingdom are urging the government to ban PFAS-containing pesticides after a study found the substances on numerous fruits and vegetables. Those who wish to mitigate their exposure to PFAS and pesticides now might consider buying organic produce or even growing their own fruits and vegetables, which may come with the added benefits of higher nutrient levels and lower grocery costs. Avoiding certain consumer goods, such as nonstick cookware, can also help reduce household PFAS exposures. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
