Syngenta invests $130 million in UK bioscience hub to accelerate AI-driven crop solutions

Syngenta plans to invest $130 million (GBP 100 million) to build a new agricultural bioscience research center in the United Kingdom, strengthening its global research network and expanding the use of artificial intelligence in crop innovation.

The Biological Sciences Technology and Research (BioSTaR) facility will be located at the company’s Jealott’s Hill site and is expected to be operational by 2028. It will bring together around 300 scientists working across biological sciences, molecular research, and digital technologies in a purpose-built environment designed to accelerate product development. The company said the center will focus on next-generation crop protection tools, including solutions that anticipate pest resistance, respond to environmental conditions, and reduce environmental impact.

The investment highlights the UK’s role as a key hub for agricultural research, with government officials describing the project as a vote of confidence in the country’s agri-tech sector. Syngenta, which invests more than $800 million annually in crop protection R&D, said the new facility will integrate biological, chemical, and digital disciplines to improve understanding of plant, soil, and pest interactions while scaling sustainable manufacturing and innovation.