Symposium on Agriculture

RNS Number:9633Q
Syngenta AG 
16 October 2003


Media Release - Communique aux Medias - Medienmitteilung - Pressrelease


Syngenta CEO Michael Pragnell emphasizes European leadership role in meeting
global food and agriculture challenge


Basel, Switzerland, October 16, 2003

At the first European Parliamentary Symposium on Agriculture held in Brussels
today, World Food Day, Syngenta CEO and President of CropLife International,
Michael Pragnell, underlined the pivotal role of European public and private
bodies in the global challenge of food, agriculture and development.


Syngenta's CEO affirmed Europe's responsibilities to the rest of the world in
agriculture. These, he said, were never greater, in particular towards
developing countries. Emphasizing that agriculture was key to international
development, Mr. Pragnell noted that "There are many examples where the message
'get agriculture right first' has paid dividends to development."


The global challenge of population growth and food security, water scarcity and
climate change, and poverty and rural development had to be addressed by
sustainable increases in agricultural production. Sustainability, Mr. Pragnell
stressed, was the key test. Syngenta was an active participant in international
efforts toward sustainable agriculture, joining in the World Bank's ongoing
assessment of agricultural science and technology and promoting public/private
partnerships. The three pillars of sustainability - social, environmental and
economic - had to be integrated "in reconciling consumer and societal demands,
which are themselves frequently in conflict".


Both public and private sectors had a major contribution to make towards
sustainable agriculture, Mr. Pragnell asserted. In the key area of research and
development, the R&D intensity of agribusiness, averaging over 10% of sales, was
surpassed only by pharmaceuticals amongst major industrial sectors. This rate of
investment could only be sustained within a stable regulatory environment,
independent of the executive of the day and empowered to act in consumers'
interest to build public confidence in science and agricultural production.


Addressing trade issues, Michael Pragnell regretted the latest round of talks in
Cancun had not succeeded in advancing increased global trade and market access.
He reaffirmed that the industry was strongly supportive of progress in tariff
reductions; he emphasized that "the advantages of modern agriculture should be
enjoyed in both the developed and the developing world."


The Symposium was convened by the President of the European Parliament Committee
for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Joseph Daul, MEP. Speakers and
participants included Franz Fischler, European Commissioner for Agriculture,
Rural Development and Fisheries, Wojciech Olejnicsak, Polish Minister for
Agriculture, and other leading representatives from European and US authorities,
producers, farmers, and consumer organizations relating to agriculture.


Syngenta is a world-leading agribusiness committed to sustainable agriculture
through innovative research and technology. The company is a leader in crop
protection and ranks third in the high-value commercial seeds market. Sales in
2002 were approximately US $6.2 billion. Syngenta employs some 20,000 people in
over 90 countries. Syngenta is listed on the Swiss stock exchange (SYNN) and in
London (SYA), New York (SYT) and Stockholm (SYN). Further information is
available at www.syngenta.com.



For further information please contact:
Michael Stopford, Basel, Switzerland            [phone]






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