Syngenta to Build $130M AI Research Center in UK
Syngenta plans to construct a $130 million research facility at its existing site in Jealott's Hill, England, focused on using AI to accelerate agricultural product development. The facility, called BioSTaR (Biological Sciences Technology and Research center), will consolidate hundreds of scientists already working at the location and is expected to open in 2028.
The company invests more than $800 million annually in crop protection research and development. Syngenta holds over 10,000 patents covering seed and crop protection technologies.
What the facility will do
BioSTaR will combine expertise across biology, chemistry, and digital research to solve specific product development challenges. Scientists will use AI and real-world data to understand how pests, pathogens, plants, and soils interact with each other.
The research will focus on four areas:
- Decode biological complexity: Identify intervention points for pest control and plant growth by mapping organism interactions.
- Design new crop protection tools: Develop novel chemical and biological agents with new modes of action.
- Track compound behavior: Monitor how compounds move through plants and soils, and optimize their breakdown for safety and performance.
- Scale sustainable manufacturing: Develop biological manufacturing processes that make complex agents viable at scale and cost.
Camilla Corsi, Global Head of Crop Protection R&D at Syngenta, said the investment reflects the company's focus on "creating a more productive and sustainable future for agriculture."
Context
Jealott's Hill is already the largest agricultural technology research facility in the UK and Syngenta's largest crop protection R&D site globally. The announcement follows the company's 2024 opening of a revamped headquarters in Greensboro, North Carolina, which was also designed to unite departments in a purpose-built environment.
For product development professionals, understanding how AI integrates into research workflows is increasingly relevant. Explore AI for Science & Research to see how these tools apply across discovery and development cycles.
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