- Competition recognizes outstanding examples of analytics and operations research projects that transform companies, industries and people’s lives
- Syngenta “Good Growth through Advanced Analytics” named one of six finalists
- As a finalist, Syngenta inducted into Edelman Academy
GREENSBORO, N.C., USA – The 2015 INFORMS Franz Edelman Award for Achievement in Operations Research and the Management Sciences finalists have been announced. The Syngenta “Good Growth through Advanced Analytics” program, led by Joseph Byrum, head soybean seeds product development, is one of six competing finalist organizations.
The soybean breeding team at Syngenta was recognized for its use of advanced mathematics and new technologies to develop higher yielding soybean varieties. This directly addresses Syngenta’s commitment to making crops more efficient, which is central to The Good Growth Plan. Through increased genetic gain, the team is improving soybean variety accuracy, selection intensity, genetic variation and generation time without using more land, water or inputs.
“Soybean breeding has changed immensely since it began 40 years ago,” said Byrum. “Syngenta has developed new tools and models that help increase yield on the farm and support the long-term success and competitiveness of the Syngenta soybean breeding program.”
Syngenta partnered with New Jersey-based, decision analytics firm KROMITE to jointly reevaluate crop R&D program operations, which resulted in improved crop output, reduced time-to-market, significant cost optimization and increased portfolio value. Syngenta and KROMITE developed new analytical tools to improve the process of growing a wider variety of healthy crops with greater yield. Using these new tools dramatically improved project lead training, decision-making and planning, and analytical thinking in the organization. With KROMITE’s continued support, Syngenta has initiated a multi-year effort to customize and launch similar tools across all major crop areas.
Now in its 44th year, the Franz Edelman award is respected as the world’s most prestigious recognition for excellence in applying advanced analytics to benefit business and humanitarian outcomes. Using innovative analytical methods, the teams were instrumental in helping their respective institutions make better decisions, providing a disciplined way by which management can improve organizational performance in a wide variety of situations, and across both public and private organizations.
“We continue to see new soybean breeding technologies come to light,” said Ross Weikel, head of soybean seeds product marketing North America at Syngenta. “By using advanced mathematics and analytics, and other innovative approaches to increase yield, Syngenta can stay ahead of larger competitors that are using a more capital-intensive breeding model.”
Finalists are chosen on the merits of how analytics methodologies were applied to solve problems, reduce costs or improve results in real-world environments. The 2015 Edelman winner will be announced on April 13 during the INFORMS Conference on Business Analytics & Operations Research in Huntington Beach, Calif. Finalists are inducted into the Edelman Academy and the winner receives a $10,000 honorarium.
About Syngenta
Syngenta is one of the world's leading companies with more than 28,000 employees in over 90 countries dedicated to our purpose: Bringing plant potential to life. Through world-class science, global reach and commitment to our customers, we help to increase crop productivity, protect the environment and improve health and quality of life. For more information about us, please go to www.syngenta.com.
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