Syngenta Group has opened its first major manufacturing facility since the formation of the Group in June 2020. This step marks a major strategic investment in the Group’s Crop Protection business. It is also an important building block in the Group’s overall strategy to drive growth, upgrade delivery and continue market leadership in crop protection. The plant had formerly been operated by pharmaceutical company Novartis and 70 employees will be retained within Syngenta Group.

 

Erik Fyrwald, Syngenta Group CEO: “We are proud to announce the launch of our newly acquired world-class facility in Muttenz today. This investment enhances our crop protection strategy of accelerating growth and demonstrates our confidence in our crop protection innovation pipeline. It also reinforces our commitment to Switzerland.”

 

The new 23,000 square metre site in Muttenz provides several highly flexible, multi-purpose production lines to develop new ingredients and intermediates. It is located near the Group’s technical development center in Münchwilen, which will facilitate the transition of new products from pilot plant to full scale manufacture.

 

“This acquisition further reinforces Switzerland’s role at the center of our new technology introductions globally. This multipurpose asset is ideal for supporting highly technical production processes, and the location of the new plant fits perfectly into our existing portfolio. We had recognized the need for additional manufacturing capacity to support the introduction of new products, so we are pleased that we can positively address this now,” says the Head of Syngenta Group’s Crop Protection business, Jon Parr. “In these challenging times, we are especially pleased to be able to protect jobs and welcome 70 highly-skilled existing plant employees. We look forward to benefiting from their deep expertise in the future.” While the transfer of ownership took place on September 1, 2020, operations are scheduled to commence in Q1, 2021.

 

The acquisition also demonstrates Syngenta Group’s ongoing endeavors to amplify its strong presence in Switzerland, where the Group is headquartered. The entire crop protection development pipeline in Switzerland is to be strengthened by this strategic purchase. Syngenta Group is confident that Switzerland will remain a reliable location for the Group, as an innovative company: from headquarters to R&D and manufacturing, offering good and flexible working conditions and open borders for the import of raw materials, its workforce and for exporting goods. The Muttenz site will be a key contributor to the achievement of high sustainability standards in the Group’s operations, supporting the overall Group goal of reducing its carbon footprint by at least 50%, reducing water intensity by 20%, and reducing waste intensity by 20%, all by 2030.