Key Takeaways
- Syngenta and Groundwork BioAg have announced a strategic partnership to market Groundwork's mycorrhizal technology under Syngenta's own label.
- The offering combines a biological solution for crop performance and stress resistance with a carbon credit program designed to generate additional revenue for farmers.
- The products will initially target corn, soy, cereals and sunflower growers in Latin America and Europe.
- Groundwork BioAg will handle manufacturing, supply, digital tooling and the carbon program development process, while Syngenta commercializes the products.
- The partnership relies on mycorrhizal fungi, which form symbiotic relationships with crop roots to improve nutrient and water uptake while supporting long-term soil carbon storage.
Syngenta and Groundwork BioAg Announce Mycorrhizal Partnership
Syngenta and Groundwork BioAg have announced a strategic partnership to market Groundwork's mycorrhizal technology. Syngenta, which describes itself as a global leader in biological crop protection, will offer a biological solution intended to enhance crop performance and provide resistance to plant stress, while improving soil health through a carbon credit program that generates an additional revenue stream for farmers.
How the Syngenta Partnership Will Work
Under the agreement, Syngenta will commercialize mycorrhiza-based products and soil carbon solutions under its own label, initially targeting corn, soy, cereals and sunflower growers in Latin America and Europe. Groundwork BioAg will be responsible for manufacturing, supply, digital tooling and the full carbon program development process. According to the companies, farmers stand to benefit from enhanced nutrient uptake that supports higher, more resilient crop yields, along with a new revenue stream from carbon credits.
“The model we've built with Groundwork BioAg goes beyond farming carbon — it builds resilience, restores soil health, and accumulates long term carbon stocks at a remarkable pace, while generating carbon credits from which farmers directly benefit. We see this as a natural evolution of what carbon programs can achieve. This new offering perfectly fits within Syngenta's sustainability goal of supporting farmers to produce higher yield while lowering their impact on the environment,” said Petra Laux, Chief Sustainability Officer of Syngenta Group.
The Science Behind Mycorrhizal Carbon Sequestration
Soil carbon sequestration is the process by which carbon dioxide is drawn from the atmosphere through plant photosynthesis and stored in the soil through biological activity. Mycorrhizal fungi form symbiotic relationships with crop root systems, improving nutrient and water uptake and supporting long-term soil health. The fungi also help form durable mineral-associated organic matter, increasing the potential for long-term carbon storage. Soils that sequester more carbon tend to be more fertile, retain water more effectively, and are more resilient to drought and erosion.
Industry Perspectives
“By combining Syngenta's market access with our proven mycorrhizal capabilities, we are positioning mycorrhizal fungi as both a valuable agronomic input and a significant pathway for agricultural climate mitigation through our end-to-end carbon program,” said Alon Werber, CEO of Groundwork BioAg.
“This partnership reflects how biologicals are increasingly becoming a central part of agriculture. Nature-inspired solutions give farmers effective, reliable tools, while also providing concrete agronomical returns,” said Emilhano Lima, Global Head of Seedcare & Biologicals at Syngenta.
6 Comments