Syngenta Announces USD 130 Million Investment in BioSTaR Agricultural Bioscience Research Center in UK
17 March 2026, UK: Syngenta has announced a USD 130 million (GBP 100 million) investment to build a new agricultural bioscience research center at its existing R&D hub in Jealott’s Hill. The facility, named the Biological Sciences Technology and Research center (BioSTaR), will focus on biological sciences, molecular and analytical research, and digital innovation.
The company said the investment will include expanded artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities to support the development of agricultural solutions. The BioSTaR facility will bring together around 300 scientists currently based at Jealott’s Hill into a single purpose-built environment designed to support research and product development. The center is expected to be operational by 2028.
According to Syngenta, the facility will integrate biological, chemical and digital research. Key focus areas include development of crop protection solutions with new modes of action, resistance prediction, and products designed to respond to environmental factors such as temperature and soil conditions. The company said bioscience research is increasingly driven by data, advanced analytics and AI.
The research center will support work on interactions between pests, pathogens, plants and soils to improve crop protection tools, reduce environmental impact and strengthen farming systems. Areas of work include analysis of biological systems, development of new crop protection agents, tracking the movement and breakdown of compounds in plants and soils, and scaling biological manufacturing processes.
Camilla Corsi, Global Head of Crop Protection Research and Development at Syngenta, said the investment will expand scientific capabilities and support collaboration across disciplines and regions. Mike Hollands, President of Syngenta UK, said the Jealott’s Hill site has contributed to agricultural research for decades and that the new facility represents the next phase of development.
UK government officials said the investment supports the agri-science sector and job creation. Lord Stockwood, UK Minister for Investment, said the project supports high-quality jobs and reinforces the UK’s position in agri-science. Dame Angela Eagle, UK Farming Minister, said the investment aligns with government efforts to support agricultural innovation and sustainable farming. Paul Bidwell, Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration at Bracknell Forest, said the project will contribute to the local economy.
Syngenta reported that it invests more than USD 800 million annually in crop protection research and development and holds over 10,000 patents related to seed and crop protection technologies. Its innovation pipeline includes technologies such as TYMIRIUM® and PLINAZOLIN®.
The Jealott’s Hill site is Syngenta’s largest crop protection R&D center and employs more than 800 scientists. Research at the site has contributed to technologies including Amistar® and VIRESTINA™ for managing herbicide-resistant weeds.
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