theceomagazine.com | 1291
MAKE CROPS
MORE EFFICIENTRESCUE MORE
FARMLANDHELP BIODIVERSITY
FLOURISHEMPOWER SMALL
HOLDERSHELP PEOPLE
STAY SAFELOOK AFTER
EVERY WORKER2
3
4
5
6
THE GOOD
GROW TH
PLAN
SYNGENTA
HAS MADE THE
FOLLOWING SIX
COMMITMENTS
TO IMPROVE
GLOBAL FOOD
SECURITY BY
2020:
acquired by chemical giant ChemChina for a massive
US$43 billion – the biggest ever foreign takeover by
a Chinese company.
Having displayed his commitment to the company
and his ability to deliver global results, Andrew was
appointed Regional Director of Syngenta China.
“After the acquisition of a publicly listed company
by a privately owned business, I returned to Asia and
to establish China as a new and stronger region for
the organisation,” he explains. “Over my long career
in agriculture, I’ve seen massive changes in policy
and regulation as well as in agriculture technology
in terms of zero tillage and sustainable practices.”
Together with ChemChina, Syngenta strongly
backs the Chinese government’s long-term strategy
to further improve domestic, demand-driven growth
while continuing to be a major global exporter.
Andrew says that while industry competition is
tough, it’s also necessary to drive higher standards
and encourage innovation. He believes this is the key
to addressing the global challenge of food security
and helping to speed up the transition to a modern
and sustainable agriculture sector in China. “We lead
the industry by investing a huge amount in research
and development, inventing new crop protection
products and working with channel partners to bring
new products to China.”
However, the problem remains that agriculture
continues to use 70 per cent of the world’s fresh
water, and is a major producer of greenhouse gases.
“We have to protect our resources for the next
generation, but the problem is, how do we produce
enough food to feed a growing population with the
same resources we have now?” asks Andrew. “We
need to look at modern breeding techniques,
production technology, and chemicals that have less
of an impact on the environment. Digital agronomy
is shaping the future of agriculture now and for the
next generation. The digitalisation of agriculture will
take vast amounts of information and combine it
with drone and satellite imagery to create the farming
of the future.”
Driven by purpose, Andrew’s career advice is to
find a job that aligns with your passions. “I think of
myself as an environmentalist, so I love working in
agriculture. We find people with the same passions
and, together, we can make a difference by creating
sustainable environments and taking people out of
economic difficulty and into prosperity. One decision
can impact an entire environment or community of
people, so we hope to do something good.”challenges the world faces to achieve food security.
In line with this plan, the company cooperates with
industry partners, governments and non-government
organisations to support the achievement of the
United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
Home to more than 1.4 billion people, the largest
of any country in the world, China is one of
Syngenta’s most important markets. Given its limited
land and water, and its desire to cut carbon emissions,
the country’s survival depends on the implementation
of sustainable farming practices. Regional Director
of Syngenta China Andrew Guthrie explains that,
so far, the business has invested upwards of US$360
million in China, with more than 2,000 employees,
a world-class research innovation centre, and a
number of strategic global manufacturing facilities.
After 10 years with ICI Crop Care in Australia,
Andrew joined Syngenta in 2001, where he has
worked in leading management and marketing roles
throughout Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Thailand,
the UK, Europe and the Middle East. In January last
year, it was announced that Syngenta was beingInterview | INVEST