Syngenta and Emerald Seed Company sign licensing agreement

Syngenta Vegetable Seeds and Emerald Seed Company have announced the signing of a licensing agreement that will provide Syngenta exclusive access to Emerald Seed’s high-quality genetics.

Specifically, Syngenta said the partnership would allow it to continue investing in advancing onion seed germplasm and strengthen its offering in onion seeds, one of the most widely grown vegetable crops globally.

Emerald Seed Company breeds open pollinated and hybrid varieties across a variety of crops, including broccoli, cucumbers and onions.

“This partnership speaks to how collaboration is essential in our industry for the benefit of all stakeholders,” said Matthew Johnston, global head of vegetable seeds and flowers at Syngenta.

“We’re excited by the opportunity to share Emerald Seed’s products with more growers around the world, especially their world-class onion seeds,” he noted. “This aligns with our passion to serve growers of every type with the most diverse, innovative portfolio of vegetable seed varieties.”

Emerald Seed Company was founded in 1995 as a vegetable seed breeder and producer, partnering with seed distributors throughout the world to serve professional vegetable growers.

The company is based in El Centro, California, where it maintains research fields and has concentrated its onion breeding programme for more than 20 years.

“Emerald Seed takes great pride in supplying our customers with a consistent source of high-quality vegetable seeds,” said Dr Michael Dessert, owner and head plant breeder of Emerald Seed Company.

“This partnership with Syngenta provides a path to put our seeds in the hands of more growers worldwide,” he added. ”We look forward to working with Syngenta for years to come.”