Syngenta AG's headquarters in Basel, Switzerland

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Agriculture may be the world’s oldest industry, but at Syngenta, it is being reshaped by some of the most advanced technologies available today. As Chief Information and Digital Officer, Feroz Sheikh leads efforts to integrate data, artificial intelligence and digital platforms into how food is grown and how farmers make decisions.

“Syngenta is an agriculture inputs provider,” Sheikh explained. “We make the crop protection products that farmers use on their fields, and we develop seeds for crops like corn, soybeans and tomatoes.” Operating in more than 90 countries with roughly 50,000 employees, Syngenta Group reported approximately $28.4 billion in sales in 2025. This scale increases Syngenta’s global reach and influences highly localized farming realities.

For Sheikh, the role extends far beyond traditional IT. His remit spans everything from foundational infrastructure to cutting edge AI, with a strong emphasis on driving innovation that benefits both researchers and farmers. “A lot of my time goes into helping use data and technology in meaningful ways,” he said, “whether that is accelerating product development or helping farmers make better decisions in the field.”

Organizing for Interdisciplinary Innovation

A defining feature of Syngenta’s approach is how it organizes for innovation. Rather than isolating technical expertise, the company builds interdisciplinary teams that combine deep domain knowledge with advanced computational skills. Sheikh points to computational agronomy as a core example, where data scientists and engineers work alongside soil experts and entomologists.

“That intersection allows us to develop solutions that take data about the soil and feed it into models,” he noted. “From there, we can make recommendations on how farmers can improve outcomes.”

This blending of disciplines reflects a broader shift in how talent is evolving. Increasingly, success depends not just on technical proficiency, but on the ability to bridge domains. Syngenta is also investing in roles like knowledge managers, who ensure that AI systems are trained on accurate, current and relevant information. “It is about making sure the expertise behind these tools is consistent and usable,” Sheikh underscored.

The Digital Layer on a Physical Industry

Yet even as digital capabilities expand, agriculture remains fundamentally physical. Seeds must still be planted, crops must still be harvested and environmental conditions remain unpredictable. Sheikh describes modern agriculture as a kind of “jigsaw puzzle,” where advances in chemistry, genetics and machinery have laid the groundwork, but data and AI are emerging as the final piece.

Today’s tractors, he points out, function as “data centers on wheels,” generating vast amounts of information as they move across fields. The opportunity lies in turning that data into actionable insight. “Every decision a farmer makes can now be more data driven,” Sheikh emphasized. “From soil conditions to weather patterns to seed performance, we can help optimize each step.”

Democratizing Expertise Through AI

One of the most powerful applications of this approach is the democratization of expertise. Farmers operate in vastly different contexts, from small family farms in emerging markets to large scale commercial operations. Digital tools and AI have the potential to bridge that gap.

Sheikh describes a scenario where a farmer can simply take a photo of a crop issue using a smartphone. AI models can then diagnose the problem and recommend a course of action, often in the farmer’s native language. “That farmer now carries expertise in their pocket,” he offered with a note of pride. “It is transformational.”

AI Across the Value Chain

This philosophy extends across Syngenta’s broader AI strategy, which Sheikh organizes into four pillars: AI in the lab, in the supply chain, in the enterprise and in the hands of farmers. In research and development, AI helps scientists analyze trial data and predict which innovations are most likely to succeed. In supply chain operations, AI driven agents assist with procurement and logistics decisions. Internally, AI is being used to modernize workflows and improve productivity.

At scale, these capabilities unlock entirely new possibilities. With digital platforms now deployed across more than 180 million acres, Syngenta can identify patterns and trends that were previously invisible. For example, early detection of crop diseases in one region can be used to predict how those diseases will spread, enabling farmers in other areas to take preventative action.

“This is not just about climate models,” Sheikh explained. “It is about combining real-time observations with environmental data to create a collective intelligence that benefits everyone.”

Feeding the Future Sustainably

The stakes could not be higher. By 2050, the global population is expected to approach 10 billion, requiring a dramatic increase in food production without expanding agricultural land. Sheikh sees this challenge as both urgent and motivating.

“We have already maxed out on agricultural land,” he said. “The only way forward is to produce more from what we have.” Digital technology, he believes, is essential to solving that equation. By enabling more precise, data driven decisions at every stage of the farming cycle, it becomes possible to increase yields while reducing waste and environmental impact.

Looking Ahead: Automation and Autonomy

Looking ahead, Sheikh is particularly excited about the convergence of AI with robotics and automation. Drones are already being used to monitor fields and apply treatments, and the next wave of innovation could include autonomous machines capable of executing complex agricultural tasks.

“It almost sounds like science fiction,” he noted, “but it is closer than we think.”

In an industry defined by tradition, Syngenta’s approach illustrates how technology can drive meaningful transformation without losing sight of the fundamentals. As Sheikh and his team continue to push the boundaries of what is possible, the future of agriculture is becoming not just more digital, but more intelligent, adaptive and sustainable.

Peter High is President of Metis Strategy, a business and IT advisory firm. He has written three bestselling books, including his latest Getting to Nimble. He also moderates the Technovation podcast series and speaks at conferences around the world. Follow him on X @PeterAHigh.