- Expanded mandate builds on a decade of seed treatment leadership to bring biological innovations and expertise to Canadian farms
Syngenta Canada launched The Canadian Seedcare & Biologicals Institute™ (SCBI) today at its Honeywood Research Facility in Plattsville, Ontario, marking 10 years since the site opened as The Canadian Seedcare Institute™. The new name reflects the expansion of the Institute’s mandate, which now includes biological innovations and expertise alongside its established seed treatment function.
“We’re proud to celebrate the Institute’s successful first decade and its advancement of seed treatment technology and knowledge to help growers maximize crop potential in Canada’s unique growing conditions,” says Shaun Vey, president, Syngenta Canada. “By expanding the Institute’s mandate to include biologicals, we are further investing in Canadian agricultural research to support our customers and contribute to a more productive, competitive, and resilient sector.”
The SCBI is part of a global network led by Syngenta, comprised of more than 120 specialists in 22 centres of excellence worldwide. At the Canadian site, team members connect science with the practical needs of growers, retailers, seed companies, and commercial treaters. Their work supports key Canadian crops including canola, cereals, corn, potatoes, pulses, and soybeans, helping ensure solutions can be applied effectively in the local conditions.
“Biologicals are becoming an increasingly important part of the grower toolbox,” says Scott Ewert, head, Seedcare and biologicals, Canada. Biologicals include biostimulants, biocontrols, and nitrogen use efficiency products that are designed to complement traditional crop inputs. “The SCBI will test formulations and application practices, while also serving as a training platform to help customers apply these technologies to maximize their impact on farm.”
The Institute’s operations are organized around three integrated service pillars: agronomy, application, and assurance. This holistic approach combines crop and field insights, guidance on how technologies are applied, and a focus on product performance from lab to field.
“Canadian growers deserve the best possible experience with our products under Canadian conditions,” says Michelle Wall, head, Canadian Seedcare & Biologicals Institute and Seedcare technical lead for Eastern Canada. “Our role is to put solutions through the right testing and bring practical expertise to every product under Canadian conditions, so growers and our value-chain partners can make decisions with confidence.”
The Honeywood Research Facility has been home to agricultural research since 1975, when a Syngenta Canada legacy company established operations on the property. The 100-acre farm dates back to the 1890s and takes its name from the Honeywood silt loam soil found on the site. Today, the facility brings together expertise in pathology, Seedcare, biology, formulation and application technology to support product development, testing and technical support for Canadian growers.
The global headquarters for The Seedcare & Biological Institute are in Stein, Switzerland. Other Institutes are in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, Turkey, Ukraine, the USA, and Zambia.
Always read and follow label directions. The Seedcare™ Institute™, The Seedcare & Biologicals Institute™,and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company. © 2026 Syngenta.
