Planet

 

Crop yield is declining in many parts of Africa with diminishing levels of arable land and increasing levels of low fertility soil. As well as improving conditions for the people and stakeholders (farmers in this case) focus is also on recommending and incentivizing the use of sustainable farming that is beneficial to people and the surrounding ecosystem.

 

Biotechnological research pioneered by Syngenta has led to dramatic improvements to seeds, which have been deployed to farmers across the world -including Kenya. This head led to:

• Improved seed access, which has allowed farmers to plant a wider range of crop including ‘high value’ crops such as carrots, tomatoes and French beans. Farmers therefore need to use less land for the same return.

• Increased use of legumes such as ‘french beans’ that have a positive impact on soil fertility due to the nitrogen-fixing bacteria present on the roots of these plants.

• Increased crop productivity – soil loss for each bushel of corn has been cut by 69%, whilst Irrigation has decreased by 39%[1]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional benefits that Syngenta has brought to the environment in Kenya include innovative new farming techniques such as ‘double cropping’ which are part of Syngenta’s ‘Grow more for less’ commitment. By modifying the cycles of seeds one crop of planted immediately followed by another – 2 varieties can be grown in the same amount of land which decreases land use as well as increasing revenue for farmers.

 

Syngenta’s water solution projects also have a range of positive environmental impacts. By providing farmers with access to irrigation systems, Syngenta has dramatically decreased the level of arable land in targeted areas. Soon sensing equipment will be deployed which will allow for detailed analysis into the level of soil aridity in particular areas so that they can be provided with more water when needed.

 

Farmers that Syngenta work with are extensively trained in the use of herbicides, insecticides and pesticides to minimize the effect of the use of these on the surrounding ecosystem and to ensure that these chemicals do not affect the purity of the local freshwater source.

 

 

 

[1] 1 Keystone Center Sustainability Initiative