Syngenta held a ground-breaking ceremony last week for the permanent site of Syngenta Biotechnology (China) Co., Ltd. (SBC). SBC, the first foreign-invested biotech research institution in China, officially started operations in 2008 at a temporary location in the Zhongguancun Life Science Park in Beijing. Syngenta has grown the facility to over 70 employees and has committed an estimated total investment of over $100 million USD in the initial five years.

SBC is one of two global research facilities for Syngenta, both of which are supported by a number of additional research and development sites. SBC specializes in early research of agronomic traits for key crops such as corn and soybean and focuses on yield improvement, water optimization, disease control and biomass conversion for biofuels.

“This is an important milestone for biotechnology at Syngenta” said Michiel van Lookeren Campagne, head Biotechnology Research and Development, and president of Syngenta Biotechnology, Inc. “The capability expansion in China, combined with that of our US biotechnology facility, will enable us to continue providing new solutions that increase crop yield and productivity, and offer additional choices for growers.”

A leader in biotechnology research and development, Syngenta recently announced that Syngenta Biotechnology, Inc., the US facility located in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, leased 100,000 additional square feet of space and signed an agreement to purchase 50 acres in RTP for potential future expansion. In October, Syngenta was named as one of the Top 20 Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Employers by Science magazine and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

Syngenta is one of the world's leading companies with more than 24,000 employees in over 90 countries dedicated to our purpose: Bringing plant potential to life. Through world-class science, global reach and commitment to our customers we help to increase crop productivity, protect the environment and improve health and quality of life.