Syngenta Canada announces launch of new wheat variety

Syngenta Canada is pleased to announce the development of a new wheat variety, WR859 CL, which will be available to Western Canadian producers in 2010 through the exclusive distribution of Richardson International. WR859 CL is an awned Canada Western Red Spring wheat variety with high yield potential and a solid disease resistance package.

WR859 CL is an herbicide-tolerant wheat that gives growers the flexibility to use any registered wheat herbicide. It provides very good resistance to Leaf Rust, Stem Rust, Common Bunt and Loose Smut, and is one of few varieties offering good protection to Fusarium Head Blight. The new variety has been developed using traditional plant breeding.

"We are delighted to offer Western Canadian producers this exceptional new wheat variety,” says Jay Bradshaw, President, Syngenta Canada.
"Syngenta Seeds only produces varieties that deliver superior agronomic performance and quality and WR859 CL is no exception.”

Adds Bradshaw, “At Syngenta, we develop products with the full value chain in mind. For example, our state-of-the-art lab conducts milling and baking quality tests to ensure our varieties meet industry standards. We are confident that WR859 CL will deliver value to our producers as well as all the people who depend on them for a high quality product, including the end user.”

Western Canadian producers can purchase the new variety, which will have limited availability in 2010, through their local Richardson Ag Business Centre. “Our partnership with Richardson means producers can purchase this variety conveniently and with confidence through one of Canada’s oldest and most well-established agribusinesses,” says Bradshaw. Peter Entz, Director, Seed and Traits, Richardson International, adds, “We are delighted to partner with Syngenta as the exclusive distributor of WR859 CL and we are confident our customers will benefit from this high quality, high performing seed variety.”

Syngenta Seeds has the largest wheat breeding program in North America. With over 70 research sites across Canada and the United States, Syngenta generates over 280,000 new experimental wheat lines each year and each line is screened for agronomics, regional adaptation and yield. Of the experimental lines, Syngenta only produces those that demonstrate equal or superior end-use quality and superior agronomic performance compared to existing varieties. In Canada, Syngenta Seeds offers corn, soybean and sunflower seeds in addition to the new wheat variety.

Richardson International Limited, a subsidiary of James Richardson & Sons, Limited, is Canada’s largest privately-owned agribusiness. The company handles all major grains, oilseeds and special crops, and sells crop inputs and related services through Ag Business Centres throughout Canada. Richardson, which employs 1,400 people, is also actively involved in food processing as North America’s largest supplier of high-quality canola oil and canola meal. For more information about Richardson, please go to www.richardson.ca.

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. For more information about us please go to Syngenta.com">www.Syngenta.com.