Syngenta and Heritable Agriculture utilize AI for vegetable seed selection

Syngenta Vegetable Seeds has partnered with Heritable Agriculture to use artificial intelligence to identify the most suitable vegetable varieties for growers in diverse environments.

The initiative will combine Syngenta’s global seed portfolio with Heritable’s AI-driven analysis of trial data, weather patterns, soil conditions and other variables. The goal is to predict how specific varieties will perform under different local conditions, enabling growers to select seeds with greater confidence.

“Planting the right seed is critical to a grower’s success. New technologies such as AI can help us bring the best innovation to the field or greenhouse,” said Matthew Johnston, global head of Vegetable Seeds and Flowers at Syngenta.

Heritable Agriculture, a company founded at Alphabet’s research arm Google X, focuses on the use of artificial intelligence in agriculture. Its technology is designed to model the interaction between genetics and environment at a high spatial resolution, potentially down to 10 meters.

“We are excited to work with Syngenta to help bring cutting-edge AI tools to help them place products more efficiently,” said Brad Zamft, chief executive of Heritable Agriculture.

The partnership follows Syngenta’s wider adoption of artificial intelligence in its operations, including the integration of an AI chatbot into its Cropwise digital platform. The company said the collaboration is part of its broader efforts to strengthen food security and adapt seed development to shifting climate conditions.

Syngenta, headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, operates vegetable seed teams in more than 60 countries and supplies seed to 124 countries. The company traces its vegetable breeding heritage back more than 150 years.