Syngenta Seeds: Chinese-owned, American farmer focused

by | Mar 1, 2018 | 5 Ag Stories, News

Syngenta Seeds is now owned by ChemChina. This is one of three major players in the marketplace which is merging, or being purchased by another large company.

I spoke with the Syngenta Seeds president who says they have the resources to make the greatest comeback in the seed industry for the benefit of American farmers and the food security of America?s largest trading partner.

AUDIO: David Hollinrake, Syngenta Seeds

Syngenta Seeds recently invested $400 million into their Golden Harvest brand. Syngenta Seeds president David Hollinrake says it is part of a much bigger, long-term investment.

?We?re investing about $1.3 billion a year in R&D,? Hollinrake said. ?We?re adding salespeople, agronomists, breeders. We?re adding more people on the technology side, so we can take the great traits we have and pair them with the genetics farmers need, so we can help make them more money.?
Hollinrake also addressed Syngenta becoming Chinese-owned.

?What I?ve seen, from the ownership model – first of all, it?s private,?

I questioned ?private? in a communist country, and suggested it was quasi-governmental.

?For sure,? Hollinrake said. ?The focus is, ?How do we enable an improved understanding of American agriculture, and double-down to support American agriculture?? It?s American agriculture that?s going to enable the feeding of a growing population in China.?

I asked if Syngenta will be favored by the Chinese government, over other rivals, in the approval process for imports.

?Frankly, I have no idea. There?s not a case yet to say whether or not that is possible. We might be owned by a Chinese entity with a Swiss-based headquarters, but we?re focused on the U.S. farmer,? Hollinrake said.