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to increase output capabilities and improve efficiencies
I
n November last year, Syngenta announced the expansion of
its Brits Formulation, Fill & Packaging Plant (FF&P) site in the
North West Province. The operation will add an automated her-
bicide filling line.
Syngenta has invested approximately R20 million in the expansion
and the new line is expected to significantly boost herbicide produc-
tion to satisfy the strong demand on the continent. The FF&P site in
Brits is Syngenta’s only site of its kind in Africa and is a key part of
the company’s growth strategy in Africa.
Mr Paul Claxton (head of the Brits Formulation, Fill & Packaging
site) said: “The expanded facility will contribute to realising Africa’s
agricultural potential. It will also help us to serve the growing re-
quirements on the continent more effectively, reduce time to market
and improve efficiencies by significantly increasing our previous fill-
ing capabilities.”
Syngenta revealed that the investment is in line with the company’s
commitment made in May 2012 of building a $1 billion business in
Africa over the next ten years. Through this commitment, the com-
pany promises to make a cumulative investment of over $500 million
in Africa; recruit and train African employees and develop distribu-
tion channel networks, local production facilities with local partners
and increase access to technology to both smallholders and large
scale producers on the continent.
Claxton also mentioned that the expansion supports The Good
Growth Plan – Syngenta’s bold, measurable programme to help
producers across the world to grow more food using fewer resourc-
es, while protecting nature and improving life for people in rural
communities.
“Our strategy is that such an investment in the facility is on the tra-
jectory of solving the world’s toughest challenges of population
growth, demand for more food and strain on resources such as land,
water and energy,” said Claxton.
One of the key constraints to increasing crop production in Africa is
poor weed control, with current methods falling significantly short.
While smallholder farmers have historically fought weeds with
tillage and hand weeding, tilling has serious long-term consequenc-
es like soil erosion. For this reason, herbicides have become the
foremost weed management tool in no-till agriculture.
69
RELEVANT
USMAN ALY,
for Syngenta
1: Syngenta has invested approximately R20 million in the
expansion; the new line is expected to significantly boost herbicide
production to satisfy the strong demand on the continent.
2: Paul Claxton (head of Brits Formulation, Fill & Packaging site),
Andrew Guthrie (regional director for EMEA, Syngenta) seen here
with Mooketsa Ramasodi (acting deputy director general, Agricul-
tural Production, Health & Food Safety).
2
1