Washington, D.C., January 31, 2008

Syngenta announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Athenix Corp. for the discovery of novel corn insect and soybean cyst nematode resistance genes. Athenix is a leading US biotechnology company that develops novel products and technologies for agricultural and sustainable industrial applications. The agreement will allow Syngenta access to novel gene leads from which to develop advanced generation corn and soybean products. …more

GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. – January 31, 2008 – It’s a dirty job, but someone has to do it. In fact, entomologists are encouraging more growers to dig corn roots this coming summer to look for signs of corn rootworm feeding.

“Digging roots when it’s hot outside and corn is pollinating usually isn’t something a person would choose to do,” says Kevin Steffey, entomologist with the University of Illinois. But with the increasing spread of western and northern corn rootworms to rotated corn, Steffey says it’s important to monitor what’s happening below ground. …more