From farm roots to global innovation, leading biologicals for a sustainable future
Emiliano Lima
Global Head of Syngenta Seedcare and Biologicals
Emiliano Lima follows a series of successful leadership roles across Crop Protection and Seeds. From growing up on a family farm in Brazil to spearheading global agricultural innovation, his three-decade journey in agriculture is rooted in a lifelong connection to farming and a commitment to advancing sustainable crop solutions.
Throughout his career, Emiliano has led major global portfolios and guided the launch of breakthrough technologies including PLINAZOLIN®, TYMIRIUM®, and TINIVION®. He has managed product segments exceeding $1B, and his contributions earned him the 2021 Sinochem Best Model Employee Award. He holds degrees in Agronomy and Business Management, complemented by executive specializations from Purdue University and INSEAD.
Q
How will your journey from a family farm in Brazil to leading Seedcare & Biologicals shape your leadership and priorities as you step into this global role?
Growing up on my family’s farm in Brazil has been instrumental in understanding the needs of farmers and the importance of innovation in growing crops more efficiently and sustainably. But taking care of the people who work with you is also very important. The more your team is engaged, the more they will excel in their job.
Q
Syngenta is investing heavily in biologicals and expanding production capabilities. How will these assets strengthen your strategy, and which markets or segments offer the biggest growth potential?
These moves are strengthening our leadership in this segment. With the opening of our new plant in the USA, as well as the recent acquisition of Intrinsyx Bio and Novartis’ strains and natural products collection, we are strengthening our research and production capacity, facilitating and speeding up the rollout of our pipeline.
Biologicals is a booming market with projections expecting a higher growth rate in biostimulants and nutrient use efficiency product segments. Market penetration depends on social tissue and geographies: in Brazil, large farmers are successfully adopting biocontrols to implement Integrated Pest Management projects. In India, small farm holders are favoring biostimulants. What we can see is that across geographies, farmers are adopting more and more biological products.
Q
Our industry faces challenges in consistency, regulation, and on-seed performance. What do you think will be most important for scaling reliable biological seed treatments worldwide?
It is not about choosing one approach over another; it’s about solving challenges with the right tools. In Europe, for example, regulatory shifts are reducing the availability of traditional chemicals, creating an environment where biocontrols can truly transform the market. As a science-driven company, we rely on strong data to ensure our products deliver both efficiency and effectiveness. In this evolving landscape, our R&D capabilities are more critical than ever.
Q
Under your leadership, how will Syngenta’s Seedcare & Biologicals portfolio work together to support sustainability and climate-resilient agriculture?
Our portfolio is growing strong with several innovations in our pipeline, including new biostimulant and Nutrient Use Efficiency products, and through key agreements with other innovators for biocontrol solutions.
Q
Adoption varies across regions. How will Syngenta use digital tools, Seedcare Institutes, and partnerships to build farmer trust and expand access to biological seedcare solutions globally?
Our Seedcare Institutes network is instrumental in proving the efficacy of our seed treatment, including biologicals, and offering customized solutions. Digital and data are another crucial asset to demonstrate how solutions can address common challenges and demonstrate reliability. I believe data is the new tractor.
Q
Syngenta has strengthened partnerships across the biologicals ecosystem. How will collaboration and people development drive the next phase of innovation, and what impact do you hope to make on the industry?
According to a famous motto: if you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together. And that is true, collaboration both with other key players in the industry and across our team globally is fundamental to generating innovation. We are already paving the way for more up-to-date approaches to agriculture. My hope for the future is to make a difference in people’s lives and for our planet.
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