Syngenta Group, the Basel, Switzerland–headquartered agricultural technology company, signed partnership agreements worth more than $1.1 billion with several domestic and international collaborators during the eighth China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai on Wednesday.

The agreements cover cooperation in agricultural inputs, green production, and value chain development, with the aim of jointly promoting the green transformation of agriculture and enhancing global food security.

At its booth, Syngenta also debuted iMAP, a new smart farming model that harnesses artificial intelligence and big data to guide crop growth from planting to harvest. Tested on one million mu of farmland across 26 provinces and autonomous regions, the system supports China's push for water-saving and efficient farming.

Alexandra Brand, executive vice-president for sustainability and corporate affairs at Syngenta, said that the CIIE is a vital open platform for international exchange, especially for fostering innovation and cooperation.

"We are committed to leveraging the CIIE platform to further tap into China's innovative strengths, converge global wisdom, and deliver cutting-edge solutions to pressing food security and climate challenges facing Global South countries and humanity at large," said Brand.

According to the Swiss company, it has already carried out rice technology testing and promotion in over 30 countries and regions participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, delivering more than 100 high-quality rice varieties. These high-yield, high-quality and resilient crops are emerging as a "Chinese solution" that supports global food security and sustainable agricultural development.

"As we celebrate 75 years of Swiss-Chinese cooperation, along with the 25th anniversaries of both the Swiss Center and Syngenta, we witness a remarkable partnership between two countries and cultures," Brand added.

"That has truly exemplified how international collaboration can address global agricultural challenges and benefit farmers in China and around the world."