Global crop protection and seed company Syngenta has acquired natural compounds and genetic strains for agricultural use from Swiss-US multinational pharmaceutical corporation Novartis.
The move would give Syngenta access to a source of novel leads for agricultural research and offered integrated capabilities in bio-engineering, data science, fermentation, downstream processing and analytics, the company said on 26 February.
As part of the agreement, which was expected to close on 1 June, Syngenta said it would also lease the Novartis fermentation pilot plant and science laboratories in Basel, Switzerland.
Meanwhile, Novartis would maintain exclusive rights to its repository for pharmaceutical use, Syngenta said.
“The integration of these … assets opens a new chapter on our ability to develop … biological solutions for farmers and reflects our commitment to drive solutions that continue to elevate the sustainability of agriculture,” Syngenta’s global head of crop protection research and development, Camilla Corsi, said.
The acquisition followed a research collaboration between Syngenta and Novartis, which has been ongoing since 2019, and the opening of Syngenta’s new biologicals production facility in Orangeburg, South Carolina, USA, which would support growing demand for science-based and novel biological solutions in North and Latin American markets, Syngenta said.
Since acquiring Italy’s Valagro in 2020, Syngenta has been expanding its focus on biologicals, including bio-controls, bio-stimulants and nutrient use efficiency products.
