(NAPSA)—Water, at least in the forms needed for human health, economic production and farming, is scarce and growing scarcer. Over the next 15 years, nearly 40 percent of the global population will experience severe water use challenges. While the Earth appears to be covered by water, only one-half of 1 percent of the planet’s water is actually available for use as freshwater, according to the United States Departmentof theInterior. All segments of society must contribute to meeting the water challenge and agriculture will need to be a big part of the solution. Unpredictable weather and the need for increased irrigation efficiency are causing many farmers to rethink water, especially the amount they use. Rather than discussing yields solely in terms of bushels per acre, conversations are beginning to revolve around bushels per inch of available water. Syngenta, a global seed and crop protection company, believes using bushels per inch of available water as a guidewill help farmers to better measure theirefforts to increase water efficiency—and grow morecrop per drop. ‘As anindustry leader in water optimization—helping crops use water more efficiently—Syngenta is helping farmers rethink water and grow more from less by taking a whole-farm approach to improving waterefficiency. Farmers can do this with biotech advances, crop protection technologies and integrated crop solutions that allow them to attain greater crop yields while using Tess water. Advances in plant breeding, for example,are helping Syngenta researchers identify andselect genes that work to help plants use water moreefficiently At 75 percent irrigation, Water*™ Intelligent Irrigation Platform outyielded the standard grower program at 100 percentirrig: * and provide season-long defense against drought. Because water optimization is more than one genetictrait, one technology—or one company— industry partnerships will also be integral to meetingthe waterchallenge. Water*” Intelligent Irrigation Platform, an integrated solution for irrigated corn growers, combines market-leading agronomic products, technologies and services from Syngenta and Lindsay Corporation, a leading designer and manufacturer of innovative irrigation systems. At 75 percentirrigation, Water* Intelligent Irrigation Platform outyielded the standard grower program at 100 percentirrigation.* Experts believe that rising global dietary standards, along with population growth, will require a doubling ofglobal agriculture production by 2050. This growth must be attained with sustainable management practices, meaning wateruse efficiency must continue to improve. So agriculture needs to makesignificant changes to the way food is grown—and must rethink water. Note to Editors: Water*™ is a trademark of a Syngenta Group Company. Zimmatic is a registered trade. ‘mark ofthe Lindsay Corporation. * 2011. Optimal performance under variable conditions. Data collected from 27 sites with over 26 miflion data points collected through combine yield monitors. Bastern Colorado, Nebraska and Western Kansas.
