Syngenta e-licensing heralds new era for sharing of plant science innovation -- BASEL, Switzerland, Jan. 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- BASEL, Switzerland, Jan. 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Syngenta today launched a landmark e-licensing platform to provide plant breeders and research institutes around the world with quick and easy access to patented native traits from its commercial vegetable varieties. The global internet-based platform also offers access to patented enabling technologies, which help breeders with gene expression, plant transformation and protein targeting as they develop high-yielding varieties. Syngenta's Head of Business Development, Robert Berendes , said: "We are proud to be able to make our patented native traits and enabling technologies more accessible than ever before. Our e-licensing platform will help accelerate innovation in agriculture so that growers - large and small - can increase productivity in the face of challenges such as climate change and scarce natural resources. All academic and non-profit organizations can make free use of the available traits and technologies for R&D purposes and can distribute the resulting products in developing countries free of charge. Creating new varieties with desirable combinations of plant characteristics requires extensive breeding expertise and long-term R&D investment. Patents play an important role in incentivizing research. However, plant breeders have traditionally been challenged by the complex, costly and time-consuming process of obtaining licenses to patented technology. Syngenta has addressed this issue by offering standard licenses under fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms. There are also no lengthy and complex negotiations as licenses can be secured via the internet-based platform. To access Syngenta's e-licensing system, please visit: www.traitability.com Syngenta is one of the world's leading companies with more than 26,000 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 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. We refer you to Syngenta's publicly available filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for information about these and other risks and uncertainties. Syngenta assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changed assumptions or other factors. This document does not constitute, or form part of, any offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any solicitation of any offer, to purchase or subscribe for any ordinary shares in Syngenta AG, or Syngenta ADSs, nor shall it form the basis of, or be relied on in connection with, any contract therefor. Syngenta International AG Media contacts: Analyst/Investor contacts: Media Office Paul Barrett Jennifer Gough CH-4002 Basel Switzerland Daniel Braxton Lars Oestergaard SOURCE Syngenta RELATED LINKS http://www.syngenta.com