LivinGro® is a scientific Syngenta initiative deployed in cooperation with external research institutes in Europe and Latin America. LivinGro® is promoting regenerative agriculture principles by developing biodiversity and soil health science within modern agroecosystems. The NaPA project with its 19 test farms in the DACH region is part of this international initiative.
Origin and objectives
Since the 1960s, agricultural intensification has depleted agroecosystems globally. Many factors related to this have triggered a significant decline in the overall diversity and biomass of the entomofauna, which has led to an intensive debate about an "insect die-off". The fact that almost half of the earth's usable land surface serves as arable land, grassland, or for the cultivation of specialty crops, makes it clear that measures promoting biodiversity will not be sufficient if they do not include the entire agroecosystem.
This is where LivingGro® comes in.
Flowering strip on a cherry farm in Chile where LivinGro® protocols are applied
More than 100 independent scientists are dealing with the multidisciplinary breadth of 52 biodiversity and soil health parameters. Data collection relies on recognized methods.
Their work generates a data pool that will serve to determine if and how ecological measures benefit the diversity and abundance of macro and microorganisms in agroecosystems. The researchers are investigating, among other things, the above- and below-ground arthropod fauna, the soil microbiome, and various soil health factors. This data will be complemented with meteorological data to ensure a better holistic understanding of the complex processes taking place in the respective agroecosystem.
Science taking place on productive farms
All outdoor trials are performed on farms that are managed according to standard practice to ensure that the results obtained are directly related to modern production processes.
Multi-year LivinGro® pilots with complex data collection processes create the basis for developing scalable methods that are promoting biodiversity and soil health. These methods have the potential to significantly contribute to the transformation of today's production forms toward sustainable and regenerative farming systems.
There is a particular emphasis on insect fauna, using a variety of monitoring techniques to quantify the value of ecosystem services provided by insects. Special attention is paid to pollinators and natural enemies of plant pests.
LivinGro® fields with permanent and rotational crops
LivinGro® at a glance
LivinGro® research activities are currently underway in nine countries.
In the NaPA project, as well as in Argentina and Mexico, the focus is on agroecosystems where cereals, maize, rapeseed, or legumes are grown.
In Chile and Spain, the focus is on various permanent crops such as cherries or olives. The entire breadth of the research spectrum is also covered there.
Field trials for the food industry are taking place in Costa Rica and Colombia. There, tropical cultures and their agricultural ecosystems are examined using focused research programs. These activities further expand the LivinGro® portfolio.
The scientific work also includes the evaluation of new technologies for a simple and reliable provision of data, as well as cross-border cooperation so that experiences can be shared, and scientific evidence can be used by all partners in a variety of ways.
Countries with ongoing LivinGro® pilots
Practical, economical, sustainable
Livingro® combines research, agriculture, and ecosystems into one program that provides farmers with practical protocols and predictive models based on high-quality and independently generated data.
The scientific findings make it possible to optimize agronomic practices in such a way that sustainable improvements in soil health and ecosystem services are achieved.
LivinGro® promotes the principles of regenerative agriculture in favor of greater farm profitability and sustainability and a healthy environment.
