Syngenta Crop Protection AG
Through Earthwatch's Corporate Environmental Responsibility Group (CERG), Syngenta started discussions with Earthwatch about opportunities for collaboration in 2004, and an agreement on a three-year programme of activities was signed in 2005.
Syngenta and Earthwatch share interests in research on biodiversity conservation in agricultural landscapes, and Syngenta was keen to work in collaboration with an independent science based NGO. The programme aims to raise awareness and understanding with staff, stakeholders and policy makers on current research and best practice in combining crop productivity and biodiversity conservation in Europe.
Three projects are being developed to explore biodiversity enhancement in three major intensive crop systems: mixed arable farming (in the UK), vineyards (France) and olive plantations (Spain). The aim is that these should become ongoing, sustainable research projects attracting participants from Syngenta, governmental and non-governmental organisations and the public.
More broadly the programme contributes to the development of thinking within Syngenta about the roles agribusiness plays in environmental stewardship and sustainable agriculture.
Partnership Elements
Stakeholder Involvement
Syngenta is a relatively young company, formed in 2000 by the merger of Novartis and Zeneca, and started Corporate Responsibility Reporting in 2003. As part of Earthwatch's Corporate Environmental Responsibility Group (CERG) Syngenta seeks to demonstrate their commitment to Earthwatch's work and improving their own environmental performance. Earthwatch provides Syngenta with feedback on their Corporate Responsibility Reports as an informed environmental stakeholder. This feedback contributes to the progress Syngenta is making towards best standards in reporting. Collaboration on joint research projects also provides increasing opportunities for Earthwatch to contribute to the development of Syngenta's approach to sustainability in agriculture, including participation in high level debates at, for example, the World Conservation Forum.
Employee Engagement
During the first two years of the Syngenta-Earthwatch partnership, 31 members of Syngenta staff have participated in one of the two projects available: Wildlife Enhancement on a Working Farm (Upton Estate, England) or Biodiversity Enhancement in the Bordeaux Vineyards (France). In addition to this, 5 representatives from partner organisations (ranging from Government Departments to Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust) have participated in the programme at Upton Farm. During 2008, we project a further 30 participants from Syngenta and partner organisations will participate in the programme.
Participants take part in a combination of classroom learning and visits to an intensively farmed environment to demonstrate the research in progress. Basic practical training is given in methods and requirements for collecting data and wildlife identification. Using information given in informal lectures, in-field practical demonstrations and facilitated discussions, participants are given the opportunity to develop their own simplified research study to better understand the impact that certain environmental management techniques can have on biodiversity as well as farming outputs.
Community Investment
There is no direct community investment, but the projects that are being developed by Earthwatch with Syngenta provide opportunities for other participant groups including students, teacher teams and disadvantaged youth teams.
Environmental Research
Syngenta supports development of three new Earthwatch projects: Wildlife Enhancement on a Working Farm (Upton Estate, England) started in 2006; Biodiversity Enhancement in the Bordeaux Vineyards (France) launched 2007; and a new project on biodiversity in olive plantations in Spain, planned for 2008. All three projects contribute to Earthwatch's Priority Research Area on Sustainable Resource Management, especially with regard to the protection of habitats and species in multi-use farmed landscapes. The emphasis on habitat connectivity is also relevant to issues of resilience in the face of climate change.