Syngenta Seeds launches North America sunflower business

Syngenta Seeds, Inc. has announced the launch of its North America sunflower business with a portfolio of 16 sunflower hybrids. Syngenta is the global leader in sunflower sales worldwide with more than $200 million in sunflower seed sales during 2008. In August, Syngenta expanded its global leadership in the sunflower industry to North America with the purchase of the Monsanto hybrid sunflower seed business.

North American sunflower growers will be able to purchase Syngenta sunflowers from Garst, Golden Harvest and NK(R) Seeds dealers. Dealers will work with three dedicated sunflower agronomists located in South Dakota, North Dakota and the High Plains to ensure they are providing growers the most up-to-date information regarding the Syngenta sunflower products and impact this crop may have on a growers farm.

In addition, the Syngenta global research and development group has begun research efforts aimed at breeding and developing new sunflower hybrids for North American growers.

"By combining Syngenta and Monsanto germplasm pools in our breeding program, we can develop new top-yielding products with traits growers need," said Jim Johnson, sunflower marketing and product manager, Syngenta Seeds. "It truly is an exciting time for Syngenta and the sunflower industry as we find ways to provide growers with a more profitable crop through integrated seed and crop protection solutions."

Growers who previously purchased sunflower hybrids under the DeKalb and Garst(R) brands will now find those products sold as Syngenta sunflower brands. Growers will still be able to easily identify their preferred hybrid as the brand names will maintain the same numeric designation under the Syngenta naming system.

Syngenta is one of the worlds leading companies with more than 24,000 employees in over 90 countries dedicated to our purpose: Bringing plant potential to life. Through world-class science, global reach and commitment to our customers we help to increase crop productivity, protect the environment and improve health and quality of life.