Syngenta, a prominent science-based agtech company, focuses on sustainability and empowers millions of farmers globally to produce safe and nutritious food while safeguarding the environment. As a joint venture public limited company, Syngenta AG Switzerland holds 60% of the shares and the Bangladesh Government owns 40% of the shares through the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC). Syngenta has been operating in Bangladesh for over 50 years.
Based in Basel, Switzerland, Syngenta has 30,000 employees, in more than 90 countries. Making Syngenta one of the leading agriculture companies in the world. Its roots can be traced back to Ciba-Geigy, which started in Bangladesh in 1973. After merging with Sandoz to form Novartis in 1996, Novartis Agribusiness and Astra Zeneca Agrochemicals merged in 2000 to create Syngenta. Now, Syngenta Bangladesh is a leading provider of agricultural solutions, supporting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
While ensuring farmers are at the centre of everything, Syngenta Bangladesh fosters agricultural sustainability. Through initiatives such as the Astha Crop Insurance, a safety net that changed the lives of marginalized farmers. It continues to protect farmers’ investments and livelihoods against extreme weather challenges. With projects such as CENTRIGO™, aligned with SDG – 02: Zero Hunger, Syngenta provides end-to-end solutions including inputs, financing, insurance, and better market access to improve farmers' productivity and profitability. Whereas, projects such as GoGrow, enables smallholder farmers in saline-prone areas to increase their incomes and improve profitability, by promoting salinity-tolerant rice varieties.
Syngenta Bangladesh's 'Product & Pollinators Stewardship' initiative is accelerating agricultural sustainability through responsible consumption and production. While groundbreaking adoption of technology has led to Cropwise Apps, the first ever complete AG digital doctor in Bangladesh, and Krishitey Syngenta, Experienced Zone, a phy-gital centre where growers can access services using digital tools.
Keeping the Bangladesh Government’s export goal in mind Syngenta Bangladesh embarked on a new journey by exporting vegetable seeds to neighbouring countries. This initiative has opened a new horizon and is expected to create more employment along with increasing foreign currency reserves. In alignment with SDG – 17: Partnerships for the Goals, our partners include the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Bangladesh, Institute of Nuclear Agriculture, National Association of Small and Cottage, Industries of Bangladesh (NASCIB), and Soil Resource Development Institute (SRDI).