Syngenta inaugurates research and development center in Almería

Syngenta Vegetable Seeds has opened a Research and Development Technology Center in El Ejido, in the Almería region of southern Spain. The unit will focus on combating emerging pathogens in fruit vegetables. The facility is also expected to reduce traditional genetic improvement timelines.

The center is part of a larger company innovation complex in El Ejido. The facility brings together breeding, seed operations, trait development, fruit quality, applied data science, and digital tools in one location.

According to Matthew Johnston, global leader of Syngenta Vegetable Seeds, new pathogens are emerging at an unprecedented rate and affecting producers in various regions. He stated that the delivery of resistant seeds protects crops and farmers' income. Johnston also said that the investment reinforces the company's commitment to innovation in Spain and other countries.

The unit adopts a field-to-laboratory approach. Diagnosis begins in the producers' fields, not just in laboratories. The proposal places the farmer at the center of the research.

The center features biosecurity technology. The structure allows for work with emerging threats in a controlled and quarantined environment. The company reports that the unit maintains high standards of plant health.

Uri Krieger, global head of research and development at Syngenta Vegetable Seeds, stated that the center demonstrates the connection between breeders and producers. According to him, the work takes place throughout the year and generates data that is shared with R&D teams in strategic producing regions.

The official opening took place today. The event was attended by the Spanish Minister of Agriculture, Luis Planas, and 100 guests.

Southern Spain is among the world's leading vegetable-producing areas. The Almería region alone boasts over 30 hectares of greenhouses, with annual production reaching nearly 4 million tons of vegetables. For Syngenta, this environment fosters agricultural innovation and the development of solutions for producers across different continents.