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Syngenta Seeds: Harnessing AI for Faster, Smarter Breeding
Andy Jakubowski, Global Head of R&D Digital at Syngenta Seeds, sat down with Conference Producer Louise Crauet ahead of his appearance as a speaker at the World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit in London, to explore how artificial intelligence and machine learning are transforming seed development and trait discovery.
Applying AI to Germplasm Development
Breeding new seed varieties has typically been a “needle in a haystack” problem: millions of possibilities narrowed down to just a few products over seven to ten years. Jakubowski explained how AI is helping Syngenta speed up and sharpen these decisions.
By training models on decades of genomic and field data, Syngenta can now:
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Better predict product performance without extensive field testing
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Enrich decisions at every stage of the pipeline
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Characterize products for the right field, at the right time, with the right management
“AI and ML [Machine Learning] are perfectly suited to untangling the complex relationships between genotype, environment, and management.”
Unlocking Trait Discovery with AIThe trait discovery pipeline is also entering an exciting new phase. Using AI models — including those developed through Syngenta’s collaboration with InstaDeep — researchers are learning to “read the grammar” of DNA.
This enables precise design of traits and proteins that:
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Express in the right tissue, at the right time, in the right volume
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Deliver benefits to crops while avoiding unintended effects
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Move from research to real-world impact more efficiently
Though still early, Jakubowski sees AI-driven trait optimisation as a major breakthrough that is already enriching Syngenta’s pipeline.
Tackling Climate Extremes with StabilityWhen asked which crop traits are most urgent today, Jakubowski emphasized stability. Climate change, he said, is fundamentally a problem of extremes — drought, flooding, disease outbreaks — and crops need to withstand this variability.
Through AI-powered modeling and accelerated pipelines, Syngenta can:
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Select products better adapted to unpredictable conditions
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Predict and validate stability across a wide range of environments
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Deliver seed varieties that consistently perform — whether in dry years, wet years, or disease-heavy years
“Our goal is to give farmers confidence that a Syngenta product will perform on their farm, no matter the conditions.”
Join the Conversation in London
Jakubowski highlighted that speed, precision, and power are at the core of Syngenta’s approach to integrating AI into its seeds business. Hear more at the World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit in London, September 22–23, where he’ll share more on Breeding Climate-Resistant Crops with AI during a main stage innovation spotlight.
Will you be there alongside 800+ agri-food leaders at the InterContinental London – The O2?
Secure your place today→
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