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2019 Syngenta Crop Challenge in Analytics focuses on improving water optimization in corn

  • Competition seeks data-driven strategies to help plant breeders develop more resilient crops 
  • Participants receive real-world data to use in developing their models
  • Cash prizes totaling $8,500 will be awarded 

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Aug. 27, 2018 – Syngenta and the Analytics Society of INFORMS today announced the launch of the 2019 Syngenta Crop Challenge in Analytics. Operations research and data analytics students and professionals worldwide are invited to enter, using real-world crop data to develop models assessing the ability of corn hybrids to optimize water. 

Now in its fourth consecutive year, the Syngenta Crop Challenge in Analytics is a collaborative effort between Syngenta and the Analytics Society of the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS). The premise of the competition, which brings together experts in mathematics, agriculture and big data, underscores the cross-industry collaboration needed to feed a growing population with limited natural resources.

“The Syngenta Crop Challenge gives data analytics experts a chance to use their skills to address global challenges, such as improving water optimization in crops,” said Gregory Doonan, head of novel algorithm advancement, Syngenta. “Water is the biggest limiting factor to growing a successful crop, and developing plants that can optimize the use of available water throughout the season is a significant area of study within the industry. Syngenta has seen great success in developing water-optimized crops—like our Agrisure Artesian® corn hybrids in the United States. However, drought is a complex stress, and the industry must continue to innovate in this space.”

Entries will be evaluated by a panel of judges based on the rigor and validity of the process and the quality of the proposed solution. The deadline for entries is January 18, 2019. Finalists will be announced in March and given the opportunity to present their submissions in April at the 2019 INFORMS Conference on Business Analytics & Operations Research in Austin, Texas. The winner will be awarded $5,000; the runner up will receive $2,500; and the third place entry will receive $1,000. 

Established in 2015, the Syngenta Crop Challenge in Analytics is supported by Syngenta and hosted by the Analytics Society of INFORMS. It is funded by prize winnings donated by Syngenta, in connection with the company’s win of the Franz Edelman Award for Achievement in Operations Research and the Management Sciences in 2015.

The competition exemplifies Syngenta’s commitment to make crops more efficient—an essential pillar of The Good Growth Plan, Syngenta’s global initiative to improve the sustainability of agriculture. 
 
For more information about the Syngenta Crop Challenge in Analytics, including eligibility criteria and deliverables, visit www.ideaconnection.com/syngenta-crop-challenge. 

About Syngenta
Syngenta is a leading agriculture company helping to improve global food security by enabling millions of farmers to make better use of available resources. Through world class science and innovative crop solutions, our 28,000 people in over 90 countries are working to transform how crops are grown. We are committed to rescuing land from degradation, enhancing biodiversity and revitalizing rural communities. To learn more visit www.syngenta.com and www.goodgrowthplan.com. Follow us on X at www.twitter.com/Syngenta and www.twitter.com/SyngentaUS.

About INFORMS
With 12,500 members from nearly 90 countries, INFORMS is the largest international association of operations research (O.R.) and analytics professionals and students. INFORMS provides unique networking and learning opportunities for individual professionals, and organizations of all types and sizes, to better understand and use O.R. and analytics tools and methods to transform strategic visions and achieve better outcomes.

The INFORMS Analytics Society, a subdivision of INFORMS, promotes the integration of a wide range of analytical techniques and supports activities that illuminate significant innovations and achievement in the growing field of analytics.

Media Contacts:        
Chris Tutino  
919-226-7238
chris.tutino@syngenta.com  

Cindy Whitt
919-870-5718
cwhitt@gscommunications.com

INFORMS media contact:
Ashley Kilgore
443-757-3560
ashley.kilgore@informs.org

Web Resources:
Know More, Grow More
Syngenta Newsroom
Syngenta U.S.
Thrive
INFORMS

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This document contains forward-looking statements, which can be identified by terminology such as ‘expect’, ‘would’, ‘will’, ‘potential’, ‘plans’, ‘prospects’, ‘estimated’, ‘aiming’, ‘on track’ and similar expressions. Such statements may be subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from these statements. For Syngenta, such risks and uncertainties include risks relating to legal proceedings, regulatory approvals, new product development, increasing competition, customer credit risk, general economic and market conditions, compliance and remediation, intellectual property rights, implementation of organizational changes, impairment of intangible assets, consumer perceptions of genetically modified crops and organisms or crop protection chemicals, climatic variations, fluctuations in exchange rates and/or commodity prices, single source supply arrangements, political uncertainty, natural disasters, and breaches of data security or other disruptions of information technology. Syngenta assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changed assumptions or other factors.

©2018 Syngenta. 9 Davis Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. The Syngenta logo is a registered trademark of a Syngenta Group Company. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Syngenta supports but is not a sponsor of this INFORMS challenge. Entrants must read and agree to terms and conditions of the challenge, found with the registration materials.

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