Syngenta

In 1758, Geigy was founded in Basel, Switzerland. Over the centuries, it evolved its technology to benefit the pharmaceutical and agricultural remedies industries.

Despite celebrating 10 years in 2010, Syngenta's roots date back 253 years, highlighting its long history in the agribusiness sector.

Sandoz is founded in 1876.

Ciba is founded in 1884.

Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) is established in 1926 through the merger of Brunner Mond Ltd, Nobel Industries, British Dyestuffs Coronation Ltd, and United Alkali Co. Ltd.

In 1928, ICI initiates work on the Agricultural Research Station at Jealott’s Hill in the UK.

In 1935, Geigy starts its production of insecticides.

Plant Production Limited (PPL) is established in 1937 as a joint venture between ICI and Cooper McDougall & Robertson Ltd.

In 1939, Paul Müller, a researcher at Geigy, discovers the insecticidal effectiveness of DDT.

In 1966, Ciba-Geigy introduced the insecticide Galecron chlordimeform, which was later removed from the market in 1988 due to health concerns.

Since 1970, Syngenta and its legacy companies have been dedicated to serving American farmers by providing innovative products and agronomic advice to improve productivity and profitability in food, feed, fiber, and fuel crop production.

Syngenta AG was established on November 12, 1999, in Basel, Switzerland. The company is involved in the manufacturing, development, and distribution of crop protection products and seeds.

Syngenta was created in Basel, Switzerland through the merger of Novartis Agribusiness and AstraZeneca Agrochemicals.

In 2001, the Torrey Mesa Research Institute, in collaboration with Myriad Genetics Inc., successfully finished the Rice Genome Map.

By 2002, the merger between two agrochemical giants had been declared successful, surpassing initial targets and solidifying Syngenta's position in the industry.

Syngenta enhances its US corn and Soybean business by acquiring Golden Harvest.

In 2004, Syngenta was included in the FTSE4 Good Sustainability Index for the first time, recognizing its commitment to sustainable practices.

DuPont and Syngenta announce licensing agreements and the formation of GreenLeaf Genetics LLC, a joint venture that will bring expanded choice to North American farmers through broader access to the companies’ proprietary corn and soybean genetics and biotechnology traits.

In 2006, Syngenta took a more proactive approach by co-establishing one of the first agricultural focused venture funds with the Dutch venture capital firm Life Sciences Partners.

In October 2007, a Brazilian peasant organization, the Landless Workers' Movement, led a group of landless farmers in an invasion of one of Syngenta's seed research farms in Brazil. The invasion was a protest against genetically-engineered vegetables and an attempt to obtain land for landless families.

In October 2008, Syngenta Crop Protection Canada, Inc. was acknowledged as one of Waterloo Area’s Top Employers, highlighting its positive work environment and employee-focused policies.

Syngenta completes a $600 million capacity expansion program aimed at enhancing the production of crop protection products, marking its largest investment program to date.

On 13 November 2010, Syngenta celebrated its 10th anniversary, marking a decade of technological advancements in agriculture.

In January 2011, Syngenta Indonesia initiated the construction of a $26 million corn seeds processing plant in Pasuruan, East Java. The plant aimed to have a seed capacity of up to 5,700 metric tons and was expected to be operational by the second half of the year.

In May 2012, Syngenta settled a class action lawsuit filed by the city of Greenville, Illinois, regarding the adverse effects of atrazine on human water supplies, amounting to $105 million.

Syngenta AG is a company specializing in specialized chemicals based in Switzerland. The company's history, profile, and corporate video were modified on March 12, 2024.

There has been a long-running conflict between Syngenta and University of California at Berkeley biologist Tyrone Hayes. The conflict revolves around Hayes's research suggesting that the Syngenta-produced chemical atrazine was responsible for abnormal development of reproductive organs in frogs.

Monsanto withdrew from negotiations with Syngenta on 26 August 2015 after Syngenta's Board of Directors rejected a better offer.

In February 2016, ChemChina offered to buy Syngenta for $43 billion, a deal that was recommended to shareholders.

On June 23, 2017, Syngenta lost a lawsuit trial in Kansas and was ordered to pay farmers $217 million due to the impact of Viptera genetically modified corn on grain market prices.

The acquisition of Syngenta by ChemChina was finalized on 26 June 2017, marking the largest takeover by a Chinese company at that time.

Syngenta announced its intentions to acquire Strider, a Brazilian agtech company, in March 2018.

In July 2018, Syngenta acquired Floranova, a breeder of flower and vegetable seeds based in the UK.

In September 2019, Syngenta acquired all the assets of The Cropio Group, an agri-technology company.

In June 2020, ChemChina transferred its entire agricultural business to the Syngenta Group, which now includes Adama and the agricultural activities of Sinochem.

In 2021, Syngenta collaborated with Insilico Medicine to work on creating sustainable weedkillers through the utilization of AI deep-learning tools.

In 2022, Syngenta faced controversies including being sued by the FTC for using an illegal pay-to-block scheme to raise pesticide prices, and a lawsuit from agricultural workers claiming exposure to herbicide paraquat led to Parkinson's disease.

In 2023, the Arkansas attorney general Tim Griffin ordered Syngenta to sell land in the state under a prohibition against land sales to entities with 'a connection to a country subject to the federal International Traffic in Arms Regulations.' This action was taken due to concerns regarding Syngenta's business practices.

In January 2024, a federal judge ruled that both Corteva and Syngenta must face a lawsuit filed by the Federal Trade Commission, indicating legal challenges for the companies.