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Syngenta is investing $130 million in a new bioscience R&D hub in the UK to drive innovation in crop protection by integrating biology, digital science, and artificial intelligence. The company is shifting from relying solely on synthetic chemicals to a more diverse approach that includes digital agronomy, biologicals, and advanced modelling, exemplified by the recent launch of the VIRESTINA™ herbicide. The new facility will focus on accelerating discovery in areas such as biofertilisers, biostimulants, and soil health, with a strong emphasis on harnessing AI and data to improve agricultural resilience and sustainability. This marks a strategic move as Syngenta positions itself for a future where biology and digital science are central to farming.

Agrii’s UK farm trials show that using digital tools to guide fungicide timing, rather than simply reducing inputs, can improve wheat yield and crop health. By combining disease modelling, spore detection, and on-farm observation, the trials allowed for reduced early fungicide use when risk was low, shifting resources to targeted interventions as disease pressure increased. The overall fungicide spend was similar to standard practice, but yields increased by 0.8 t/ha due to better crop health and responsive management. The results highlight that technology enhances agronomy by enabling more flexible and informed decisions, not by replacing expert judgment or radically cutting inputs.