Syngenta is an agribusiness company and claims to be a leader in crop protection. Based in Switzerland, Syngenta employs around 24,000 people in over 90 countries. In 2008 it had sales of around 11.6bn. 
History
Syngenta was formed in November 2000 by the merger of Novartis Agribusiness and Zeneca Agrochemicals and is listed on the Swiss stock exchange, as well as in London, New York and Stockholm.
Syngenta's business consists of two divisions: Crop Protection and Seeds.
Company movements
In June 2009, Syngenta acquired Circle One Global for an undisclosed sum. For more on this story please see Syngenta acquires US crop protection firm Circle One Global or got to ICIS news.
In November 2008, Syngenta acquired the seeds company SPS Argentina SA (SPS) for an undisclosed sum to reinforce its presence in the Latin American country's soybean market.
Crop Protection
This business is divided into Herbicides, Insecticides, Fungicides, Professional Products and Others. These products protect yields and improve quality by controlling weeds, diseases or insects. They are applied either to the plant, soil or as seed treatments.
Herbicides: It is divided into two categories; non-selective and selective. The largest crop herbicide markets are in cereals (wheat, barley and rice), corn, oilseeds (soybean, oilseed rape and sunflower), fruit and vegetables, cotton and sugar beet.
Fungicides: Main areas are wheat (in Europe) and rice (in Asia Pacific).
Insecticides: The largest sectors are fruit and vegetables, cotton, rice and corn.
Professional Products/Other: Many herbicides, insecticides and fungicides have non-crop uses, such as in public health, forestry, industrial weed control, golf courses and gardens. Certain insecticides and herbicides are also used as seed treatments. These are referred to as the Professional Products line, which has grown rapidly in recent years.
Seeds
The Seeds division is a complementary division to Crop Protection and is expected to play an increasing role in delivering the commercial value of Syngenta's crop traits, including biotech-based traits. The business is split into two sectors: seeds for field crops and vegetable & flower seeds.
Syngenta
Strategy & Financial Highlights
Syngenta's strategy has three main elements, these being enhance leadership in crop protection and field crops seeds; drive growth in its consumer led areas of professional products and vegetables, and flower seeds; and create new opportunities by exploiting its plant science capabilities. (Edited from annual report and company website). ICIS also provides you with key financial data listed in table form.
More about Syngenta Strategy & Financial Highlights
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