Syngenta Flowers breaks ground on $8.25 million research and development flower breeding center

Syngenta Flowers (www.syngentaflowersinc.com)—the global company known for its breeding and production of hybrid flower seed and vegetative cuttings for pot and bedding plants—recently broke ground on an $8.25 million research and development campus in Gilroy, Calif. The company plans to build a "world-class R&D Center of Excellence for ornamental horticulture."

In an interview with GIE Media's Horticulture Group, Tim Kroenke, head of Syngenta Lawn & Garden, North America; and Keelan Pulliam, president of Syngenta Flowers in North America, emphasized the comprehensive scope of the R&D activities that will take place at the Gilroy facility.

"Again, it's not only traditional breeding we'll be investigating," Pulliam said, "but how to integrate growing media and other elements."

Kroenke added: "One of the areas we have a lot of interest in is: 'How can we make the consumer experience better, as well? How do we make a plant even more foolproof?'"

Pulliam and Kroenke also discussed their desire to use innovative approaches at the facility, allowing Syngenta to break out of a "business as usual" mentality that characterizes the green industry. Pullliam emphasized that the time is right for Syngenta to make investments and changes.

Source: gardencentermagazine.com

Syngenta Licenses Chromatin Gene Stacking Technology for Sugar Cane

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., June 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Syngenta Biotechnology, Inc. announced today that it has entered into an exclusive worldwide research and commercial license agreement for Chromatin's proprietary gene stacking technology in sugar cane.

Chromatin has developed a novel approach to gene stacking, using the plant's own DNA to deliver several genes. Under this agreement, Syngenta has obtained exclusive rights to use Chromatin's stacking technology for trait genes in all members of the genus Saccharum which includes commercial sugar cane varieties as well as energy cane, and crosses between Saccharum and other plant species. Syngenta obtained non-exclusive rights for use of this stacking technology in corn and soybean in 2007.

Sugar cane is among the top crops grown today for use in sugar production and biofuels. Syngenta offers a broad range of crop protection products for sugar cane growers and is developing a novel planting technology planned for launch in 2010 under the brand name Plene(TM) that will help reduce production costs. New trait combinations in sugar cane could offer growers additional improvements in production efficiency and yield increases.

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Syngenta Licenses Chromatin Gene Stacking Technology for Sugar Cane: "Syngenta Licenses Chromatin Gene Stacking Technology for Sugar Cane