Syngenta Delivers Innovation From the Ground Up

The old man sitting on the low wall outside the University of Georgia Conference Center in Tifton spotted the young ag editor leaving the meeting.

“So, now you’re going home to write up something telling me how to farm,” he said. It didn’t sound like a question. Still, that young editor chose to treat it like one.

“No, sir,” my younger self told that farmer. “I’m going home to write up what these folks had to say today, so if it’s of interest to you and you think it might be a fit, you can try it out on your farm.”

“We can write about innovation in agriculture every day and still have a list of topics to explore. Change — largely through innovation — is life as farmers know it.”

The old man decided he might enjoy reading my magazine.

A quarter of a century later, that conversation reflects our highest goals for you — the readers of Thrive:

• To deliver nuggets of information that help increase crop yield and quality on your farms and your customers’ farms, while maximizing profit potential for all
• To deliver information in an entertaining way, so you look forward to reading this magazine each quarter

While the general public can recall the days of the rotary telephone, paper maps and print film, the speed of technology and innovation in agriculture has outpaced that timeline. Many in ag who are using real-time kinematic GPS to plant and harvest — and controlling irrigation systems with their cellphones in between the two — also can recall the days of plowing with a mule. Some even have an on-farm mule cemetery.

Still, we continue to press forward. Innovation is foundational to the ag industry and a hallmark at Syngenta.

The innovation thread weaves itself through our industry — and through Thrive. In our latest articles:

• We look back at the groundbreaking work Mary-Dell Chilton drove to increase food security. An exhibit at the Smithsonian recognizes her for opening doors for women in ag business.
• We look to this season with tips for profitably growing continuous corn and applying innovative products to fight off insects.
• Finally, we look at emerging technologies for wringing respectable yields from poor ground and using water-sensing technology to increase yield and use less irrigation.

We can write about innovation in agriculture every day and still have a list of topics to explore. Change — largely through innovation — is life as farmers know it.

As the world struggles with climate change, finite natural resources and an exploding population, the ag industry quietly progresses from one technological advancement to another. Given the opportunity, ag — from field to lab — will find the answers our global community needs.