Carbon Solutions for Farmers Syngenta and Groundwork BioAg Join Forces to Improve Soil Health
Syngenta and Groundwork BioAg have announced a strategic partnership aimed at accelerating the adoption of biological agricultural technologies while creating new income opportunities for farmers through soil carbon programs. The collaboration combines Syngenta’s global expertise in crop protection and biological solutions with Groundwork BioAg’s advanced mycorrhizal technology, delivering an integrated approach that improves crop productivity, strengthens soil health, and supports climate-smart farming.
The partnership reflects the growing demand for sustainable agricultural practices that not only improve yields but also help farmers adapt to environmental challenges and participate in emerging carbon markets. Through this agreement, Syngenta will commercialize Groundwork BioAg’s mycorrhiza-based biological products and carbon solutions under its own brand, initially focusing on key crops including corn, soybeans, cereals, and sunflower across Latin America and Europe.
Expanding Biological Innovation in Agriculture
As one of the world’s leading providers of crop protection technologies and biological solutions, Syngenta has been investing heavily in sustainable farming innovations. By partnering with Groundwork BioAg, the company is adding a proven biological technology to its portfolio that supports crop performance naturally while contributing to long-term soil regeneration.
Groundwork BioAg specializes in mycorrhizal fungi technology, which works by establishing a beneficial relationship between fungi and plant root systems. These naturally occurring fungi extend the effective root network of crops, enabling plants to absorb nutrients and water more efficiently. This biological process strengthens plant health, enhances resilience during periods of environmental stress, and contributes to improved agricultural productivity.
Unlike conventional agricultural inputs that primarily focus on immediate crop nutrition or protection, mycorrhizal technologies offer lasting improvements to soil ecosystems. The partnership is expected to help farmers adopt regenerative agricultural practices without sacrificing productivity.
A Comprehensive Solution for Farmers
The agreement extends beyond biological crop inputs by integrating a complete soil carbon program. Under the collaboration, Groundwork BioAg will oversee manufacturing, product supply, digital technology platforms, and the development and management of the carbon credit program.
Syngenta, meanwhile, will utilize its extensive commercial network and relationships with growers to bring these integrated solutions to market.
Farmers adopting the technology can expect several benefits, including:
- Improved nutrient uptake by crops
- Better water absorption and drought tolerance
- Increased crop resilience under stressful growing conditions
- Enhanced soil fertility over time
- Greater yield stability
- Access to additional revenue through verified carbon credits
This combination of agronomic and financial benefits makes the partnership unique within the biological agriculture sector.
Carbon Credits Create New Revenue Opportunities
One of the most significant aspects of the collaboration is its focus on enabling farmers to generate income from carbon sequestration.
As agricultural producers increasingly adopt regenerative farming practices, carbon markets are becoming an attractive source of supplemental revenue. By improving soil carbon storage through biological activity, farmers may qualify for carbon credits that can be sold within voluntary carbon markets.
Groundwork BioAg has developed an end-to-end carbon program designed to measure, verify, and manage carbon sequestration generated through the use of its mycorrhizal technology. The company will provide the digital infrastructure and technical processes necessary to support farmers throughout the carbon credit lifecycle.
Rather than viewing carbon credits as a separate sustainability initiative, the partnership integrates them directly into everyday farming operations, allowing growers to benefit economically while improving soil quality.
Building Healthier Soils
Healthy soil is increasingly recognized as one of agriculture’s most valuable assets. Continuous cultivation, intensive farming practices, and climate-related pressures have contributed to declining soil quality in many farming regions.
The partnership seeks to reverse this trend by promoting biological processes that naturally restore soil function.
Petra Laux, Chief Sustainability Officer of Syngenta Group, emphasized that the collaboration represents a broader vision for sustainable agriculture.
According to Laux, the partnership is about much more than generating carbon credits. It is designed to build resilient farming systems, restore soil health, and accelerate the accumulation of long-term soil carbon while creating direct financial benefits for farmers. She noted that the initiative aligns closely with Syngenta’s sustainability strategy of helping growers increase productivity while reducing agriculture’s environmental footprint.
This integrated approach recognizes that improving soil health supports multiple agricultural objectives simultaneously, including productivity, resilience, biodiversity, and climate mitigation.
Leveraging Mycorrhizal Technology
Mycorrhizal fungi are naturally occurring microorganisms that establish mutually beneficial relationships with plant roots.
In this symbiotic association, the fungi receive carbohydrates produced through plant photosynthesis while providing crops with improved access to nutrients such as phosphorus and micronutrients, along with enhanced water uptake.
The extensive fungal network effectively expands the plant’s root system, allowing crops to explore a much larger volume of soil than roots alone could access.
This biological partnership helps plants maintain stronger growth under challenging environmental conditions, including drought and nutrient limitations.
Beyond supporting crop development, mycorrhizal fungi also play a critical role in soil structure and biological activity. Their presence encourages the formation of stable soil aggregates, enhances microbial diversity, and contributes to long-term improvements in soil fertility.
Supporting Climate-Smart Agriculture
The collaboration also supports broader climate objectives by increasing soil carbon sequestration.
Soil carbon sequestration occurs when plants capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during photosynthesis and transfer part of that carbon into the soil through their root systems and associated biological activity.
Mycorrhizal fungi enhance this natural process by helping convert organic carbon into durable mineral-associated organic matter, which can remain stored in soils for extended periods.
Increasing long-term soil carbon offers several environmental advantages, including:
- Reduced atmospheric carbon dioxide
- Improved soil organic matter
- Enhanced moisture retention
- Greater resistance to erosion
- Increased resilience during drought
- Improved long-term agricultural sustainability
These environmental improvements also translate into practical benefits for farmers by creating healthier, more productive farmland.
Combining Global Reach with Scientific Expertise
Groundwork BioAg CEO Alon Werber highlighted the strategic value of partnering with Syngenta.
He explained that combining Syngenta’s extensive market presence with Groundwork’s proven expertise in mycorrhizal fungi creates an opportunity to position biological solutions as both effective agronomic tools and meaningful contributors to agricultural climate mitigation. Through the integrated carbon program, farmers can benefit from improved crop performance while participating in climate-focused initiatives.
Emilhano Lima, Global Head of Seedcare & Biologicals at Syngenta, noted that biological products are becoming an increasingly important component of modern agriculture. He emphasized that nature-inspired technologies provide farmers with reliable and effective tools capable of delivering measurable agronomic benefits while supporting more sustainable production systems.
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