This document discusses the challenges of sustainably feeding a growing global population and outlines Syngenta's approach. [1] Agriculture must grow more food from less land and resources to sustain 9 billion people. [2] Syngenta believes a system-wide approach linking technology, land use, and social factors can enable farmers to increase productivity while preserving resources. [3] However, defining and measuring sustainability is complex, and different stakeholders have varying views that could impact farmers' ability to innovate and operate effectively.
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Terry Stone
1. Long-Term Grower Productivity and
Profitability through Sustainable
Intensification
Terry Stone
Sustainability Value Chain Lead, North America
Illinois Soybean Association
July 24, 2012
2. Syngenta is a world-leading agribusiness
● A uniquely broad product portfolio
- A leader in crop protection
- Third in high-value commercial seeds
● World-class science
- $2.5m invested in R&D every day
● Global reach and experience
- Over 25,000 employees in more than 90 countries
● Commitment to working with customers
- Tailoring solutions to individual needs
Committed to Sustainable Agriculture through innovative research and development
2
3. Today’s Discussion
● Agriculture must grow more
from less to sustain a growing
population with finite natural
resources.
● Approaches to defining and
measuring sustainability.
● Why metrics and
measurement matters.
3
4. Global drivers affecting agriculture.
● 2 billion more people to feed.
● 2 times more food to produce.
● 30 percent less farmland per
capita.
● Increasing water
Picture placeholder scarcity/decreasing water
quality.
● Growing energy demand/limited
fossil fuel supply.
4
5. How will we bridge the gap between what is
available and what will be needed?
Population (billions)
Farmland (Ha/10X capita)
9
8
6.5
5
2.5 2.5
2
1.6
1950 2005 2030 2050
Source: Adapted from Syngenta Annual Review 2008 and based on 2007 Revision Population Database,
United Nations, 2008 and UN Food and Agriculture Organization.
Selected photos courtesy USDA-NRCS
5
6. Agriculture’s challenge is to grow
more from less.
● Produce more bushels of
food, feed & fiber.
● Use less land, energy & water per
bushel.
● Preserve and improve natural
resource base (water quality, soil
quality, biodiversity).
● Maintain profitability.
Select photos courtesy USDA-NRCS
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7. Grow more from less
Syngenta believes that farmers can
produce enough to meet the world’s needs
for food, fuel and fiber and safeguard the
only planet we have for future generations
Technology
– if we take a system-wide approach that
links technology, land and people. These
three elements build the foundation for a
sustainable production system in which People Land
technology enables better solutions for
farmers to increase productivity and Rural economies
profitability, to increase resource
efficiency, and help reach food security.
7 Classification: PUBLIC
8. Better solutions
Choices on the farm
To ensure that farms meet their
productivity potential, we need enabling
and transparent regulations, to make safe
technologies available to farmers.
Accelerating innovation
We need mechanisms to share innovation;
protecting intellectual property helps
stimulate research and development.
Sharing knowledge
Agriculture is based on knowledge
supported by science; we need new
partnerships to raise agronomy skills and
share expertise.
8 Classification: PUBLIC
9. Resource efficiency
Preserving the land
We need to increase productivity on
existing farmland.
High stakes for water
40% of water used for agriculture is
wasted; we need solutions that increase
water efficiency.
Vitality of biodiversity
Biodiversity and agriculture depend on
each other; we need to protect the
diversity of nature to secure our food
supply and quality of life.
9 Classification: PUBLIC
10. Rural Communities
Building markets
Growing is not enough; farmers need
supporting infrastructure and access to
markets, finance and information.
Valuing farm work
Rural economies carry the weight of
feeding the world; farming needs to be
worthwhile and profitable.
Community development
We need agriculture to spur socio-
economic development of rural
communities.
10 Classification: PUBLIC
12. Measurement verifies improvement
Soybeans ● Others need to know how/why
Smaller footprint per bushel your production system is
1980 vs. 2011 sustainable.
● 98% of consumers are at least 3
Land Soil Irrigation Energy Climate generations removed from the
Use Loss Water
farm.
Use
● Modern agriculture needs to be
heard/have a voice in the
debate.
35 % 66% 42% 42% 41%
Source: Field to Market,
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13. Measurement delivers value
Picture placeholder
• Now: identifies opportunities to grow more from
less, which can lower input costs and improve
profit margins.
• Near-term: can help to pre-empt input-based
requirements that could limit choices & increase
costs.
• Longer-term: can be used to connect on-farm
improvements in sustainability to consumer
products and to potential incentives from evolving
environmental markets.
Photos courtesy USDA-NRCS
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14. What are the implications of
how sustainability in agriculture
gets defined & measured to
successfully feed 9 billion
people?
14
15. What is sustainability? Definitions are complex & evolving.
● Meeting the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to
meet their own needs.
Brundtland Commission on Sustainable Development
● Triple bottom line: people, planet, profit.
SustainAbility Think Tank
● Meeting the needs of the present while
improving the ability of future generations to
meet their own needs.
Field to Market: The Keystone Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture
:
More than half of consumers are familiar with the term “sustainability,” but most cannot
define the term appropriately upon probing.
The Hartman Group Report on Sustainability
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16. The supply chain is setting sustainability goals.
Sustainability Goals
● Walmart has taken the lead.
● Water
● Other companies are following
PepsiCo ● Electricity
suit.
● Fuel
● Energy ● Setting reduction targets for
Heinz ● Carbon footprint water, energy, greenhouse gas
● Water emissions.
● Energy ● Conducting life cycle
General
● Greenhouse gas assessments.
Mills
● Water
● Water Sources: Walmart Press Release, July 16, 2009; PepsiCo 2009
Annual Report; Heinz 2008/2009 Corporate Social Responsibility
ConAgra ● Greenhouse gas Report; ; General Mills Press Release, November 12, 2010;
ConAgra Foods Press Release, April 5, 2010
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17. Life cycle assessment (LCA) tracks a product
from raw material sourcing through point of
purchase.
● Measures environmental impact, aka footprint.
● Methodologies are still in development.
● Some track product through end use &
disposal.
17
18. Companies are using LCA to explore opportunities to improve
the sustainability of their products*
Soy farming
9%
Production
31%
403g CO2eq Corn
farming
20%
Other raw materials, pre-
processing & packaging
40%
Finished product life cycle
* Results are unique to Just BARE Chicken Boneless Skinless Breast
based on certification by Carbon Trust
18 Source: http://www.carbontrust.co.uk
Classification: PUBLIC
19. The Sustainability Consortium (TSC) is defining
the rules for sourcing a sustainable supply
● A standard measurement & reporting system is being Administered in US by:
developed • Arizona State University
• University of Arkansas
● Will this be based on science or consumer perceptions?
Founder
Food, Beverage & Ag Sector Members:
www.sustainabilityconsortium.org/
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20. There is already a large divide on approaches to measuring
agricultural sustainability
Outcome Based Practice & input
with Growth Based with
Opportunities Limits on Choice
Some are based on
measurable Others are based on inputs
outcomes, (e.g. 10% more (e.g. reduce pesticide use
yield from 20% less by 20%, avoid GM, use
water, 15% less soil loss) organic N)
The challenge is that in agriculture “one size does not fit all”
20
21. The accepted approach will affect farm operations and the
potential of farming to meet the needs of future generations
Very
Important, Ongoin
g Debate
Outcomes-based Practice/Inputs-based
Embraces choice Limits choice,
performance, performance
innovation, &
continuous potential for
improvement improvement
Preserves freedom Threatens freedom
to operate to operate
21
22. The divide will only be bridged through collaborative efforts
with diverse representation from across the supply chain
Broad & inclusive
Built on “shared value”
Our best today may not be
good enough for tomorrow
Worthy of the consumer trust
Transparency & open source
Continuous improvement
22