The CEO of Syngenta Group, Erik Fyrwald (pictured), participated in the 16th Annual Indian Chemical Industry Outlook Conference (Indian Chemical Council - ICC), in Mumbai. In a speech, he highlighted the crucial role of Indian farmers in not only feeding the country's growing population, but also in helping improve global food security. India is home to 1,4 billion people and the UN predicts it will become the most populous country in the world by 2023.
Erik highlighted that the world is facing a major hunger crisis, with climate change and conflict making it even more difficult for farmers to produce enough food. He highlighted his recent trip to Sudan, where nearly 12 million people don't know where their next meal will come from, and compared the situation with that in other countries such as Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan.
Indian farmers are exporting more agricultural products than ever before, including rice, oilseeds and sugar. Erik emphasized the need to provide farmers with cutting-edge technology so they can increase production despite climate change while reducing emissions.
"We all have the ability to do this, but we need to work together and build bridges across agriculture and food systems, including governments, country by country, and India needs to be a key part of that," the CEO said.
Erik also highlighted Syngenta Group's work to help farmers, including developing products that help combat heat stress, in response to the intense heatwave that hit northern India last year. He also mentioned the company's program to train young entrepreneurs in rural areas and an insurance pilot project that aims to guarantee sustainable incomes for producers.
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Brazilian olive oils, which are also produced in the south of the country and in mountainous regions of states such as Bahia and Espírito Santo, have gained prominence in the gastronomic market due to their freshness and sensorial attributes.
