Exploring the Role of SynTech Research Group in digital technology on International Day of Plant Health.
As we mark the third commemoration of this significant day, we’re reminded of the indispensable role plant health plays in upholding life on our vibrant planet. This year, we focus on plant health, secure trade, and digital technology, the subject laid down by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). This theme is a call to collaborate and innovate in safeguarding the health of plants across borders.
Our world is intricately interconnected, with plant products travelling all around the globe to fulfil different agricultural needs. As such, a constant relevant threat must be considered: biosecurity risks. Invasive pests and pathogens often hitch rides, destroying plant systems and damaging not only agricultural fields but natural ecosystems beyond. The economic toll of these damages amounts to a staggering USD 220 billion globally each year, highlighting the urgent need for concerted action on a global scale (FAO, 2024).
At SynTech, we recognize that healthy plants are not just essential for food security but also for environmental sustainability and economic development. Plants provide the foundation for life. Yet, their survival faces mounting threats, with up to 40% of food crops lost annually to pests and diseases (FAO, 2024). For this, SynTech embraces its responsibility in this quest, recognizing the urgent need for fresh, ingenious solutions to tackle the intricate challenges facing global agriculture and ecosystems.
Within the technological innovation’s realm, SynTech specializes in biotechnology and phenotyping testing for client solutions in order to promote plant health and maximize crop vitality to ensure global food security.
Biotechnology stands at the forefront of agricultural innovation, with a profound focus on improving plant immunity and defence mechanisms, as well as nutrition efficiency, abiotic stress tolerance and crop quality traits. In an era where agricultural sustainability is paramount, leveraging technology to strengthen plant resilience against pests, pathogens and adverse environmental conditions is vital. Through biotechnological advancements, SynTech researchers delve deep into the intricate molecular pathways of plant immunity. In this sense, biotechnological innovations are anticipating plant protection before their health can deteriorate.
Along with biotechnological breakthroughs, phenotyping technologies serve as boosting tools in the quest for optimized plant health. At SynTech, a cutting-edge phenotyping machine harnesses the power of technology to showcase a series of parameters vital to assessing plant health. From leaf morphology to biochemical markers indicative of stress responses, it offers a view into valuable insights of the physiological state of plants. By meticulously scrutinizing plant phenotypes, our researchers can discern subtle variations in crop immunity and development and identify potential targets for genetic manipulation or breeding efforts.
Collaboration is key for the development of novel agricultural inputs to address global Plant Health challenges. We support and help agrochemical, biocontrol, biostimulant and biofertilizer developers so their products can reach the market to tackle current and future pest and pathogens.
SynTech’s dedication to protecting and promoting plant health is deeply rooted within our EPICS values (Excellence, Passion, integrity, Care and Science), caring particularly for the environment we live in and hope to leave for future generations. “We believe that promoting environmentally friendly products and practices is not just a responsibility but a moral imperative” affirmed Dr. Marisé Borja, our Global Director of Regulatory Services.
Through our investments in plant security research and development, SynTech is on a quest to test innovative solutions that not only protect plant health but also leave a minimal footprint on the environment. By embracing a spirit of collaboration and innovation in technologies, we can overcome the challenges facing global plant health.