Protecting biodiversity is
our collective responsibility

Farming relies on biodiversity to maintain a healthy equilibrium with nature and ensure resilient food production.

And yet biodiversity, or the different kinds of life found in an area, is declining at an alarming rate on agricultural land.

Globally, 35% of food production comes from crops that depend on pollinators, such as bees and insects, but intensive agricultural practices have been linked to the loss of these keystone species.

We know biodiversity is important - but to better understand it, and how we can protect it, we need more on-the-ground data.

Working with partners, Syngenta Group is drawing from its digital expertise to spearhead new technologies that measure biodiversity above and below ground.

Because protecting biodiversity is our collective responsibility.

A new tool to measure
biodiversity above ground

To understand the impact of our actions on biodiversity, and how we can restore it, we need data: lots of it.

We need clear, verifiable information on what species are found on farmland, how agriculture affects their environment and what climate change means for them.

Until now, this data has not been widely available – so we created our own system to collect it.

Our Biodiversity Sensor Project autonomously collects reliable biodiversity information and shares it to a network of key stakeholders.

This gives farmers, researchers and policy makers the data they need to make informed decisions to help biodiversity thrive.

Initially focusing on bee pollinators, our sensor is the first step in building a continuous stream of global, interconnected biodiversity networks that help safeguard the environment.

How does the biodiversity sensor work?

Drawing from artificial intelligence (AI) and machine-learning algorithms, the sensor locates and quantifies bee pollinator species in real time.
The software can identify and classify the species with an accuracy rate of greater than 90%.
That data is then added to the network where key collaborators can work together to better protect biodiversity.
Designed in partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology Ropar (IIT Ropar), the model is trained using data from key bee species from different regions to generate highly precise new prediction models.
The device is autonomous, but hardy: weatherproof and solar-powered, it is cost-efficient and can work at scale. Using novel data collection methods, it will bring greater transparency to restoration work – so we can better measure our efforts to protect biodiversity.

Measuring biodiversity below ground

Combining cutting-edge artificial intelligence with classic soil assessment techniques, we can accurately monitor soil biological quality and biodiversity with our Edapholog technology.
Working in partnership with the Institute for Soil Sciences, Budapest, Hungary and the start-up EDAPHONE Kft, our groundbreaking technology provides accurate and comprehensive biodiversity data.
Edapholog's uniqueness lies in its fusion of the Berlese-Tullgren funnel technique with cutting-edge artificial intelligence, allowing it to provide a comprehensive snapshot of soil health.
Able to provide accurate and granular data, it has the potential to reshape sustainable farming practices and address the global concern of soil degradation. Read more here.