ForumforAg Food Systems Podcast Summary

In this edition of the Food Systems Podcast, recorded at the Forum’s Annual Conference 2025, Alex Turk talks to Petra Laux, Chief Sustainability Officer & Head Sustainability and Corporate Affairs, at Syngenta.

Here is a summary of the conversation.

In its 17th year, why is the Forum for the Future of Agriculture still important, still relevant?

The Forum is still relevant because we haven’t solved the problems. While farmers have a great history of feeding an increasing population on about the same amount of land, we have new challenges. We need to look after the climate. Agriculture is in charge of roughly 25% of emissions and 70% of freshwater use, and it is a major cause of biodiversity decline. There are a lot of challenges we haven’t mastered yet.

Would you describe agriculture as a balancing act: taking from the land, but also with potential to solve some of these issues of biodiversity and mitigating climate change?

It’s an interesting perspective. We are working in a sector that is a cause of environmental problems, but it’s also an opportunity. Data shows we could potentially capture a quarter to a third of man-made emissions in the soil by restoring depleted soils through the right agricultural practice. We have the technology to get it right, and this is the good thing.

With many voices from technology, NGOs, and farmers here, are the politicians listening, particularly regarding the new Vision for Agriculture (and Food)? What do you want to say to the Forum? What do want to hear? What voices are important?

We’ve carefully studied the new Vision and are very pleased that the farmer is actually at the centre of the thinking now because the farmer is the one acting and implementing. To make this work, we need to empower farmers with tools. Europe has been pretty closed to innovation in agriculture over the last ten years, but we’re pleased to see there is now interest in reopening for innovation, particularly in biocontrols, new genetic techniques, and huge potential with digital developments to enable farmers to make the right decisions.

Is there a mindset shift that you would welcome, especially in balancing the EU’s precautionary principle with innovation?

There’s certainly a mind shift change that agriculture has to be not only sustainable but also competitive, because as a farmer, you can’t be green if your bank account is red. We need to lead the world in agriculture by being both sustainable and competitive. Due to a different mindset and regulation, Europe currently has only about 43% of the tools that farmers globally have. We hope to make an inroad by being more open to innovation, especially in new genetic techniques where we can get better seeds that live with less water and still provide high yields, that’s a huge opportunity .

We had Mike Massimino, the astronaut, talk to us about the need to focus on the mission, on collaboration. Many voices will not agree. So do you have cause for optimism?

I do. Mike made a very important point: you need to spend more time with those you have a different opinion to. The global challenges of climate change and geopolitics are becoming more pressing, not less, so it’s possibly helpful to bring us together and talk even more.

Geopolitics and potential trade wars are also being discussed. Is the ability to have your voice heard on this essential, moving forward?

When we look at trade, free trade in agriculture helps keep food affordable, which is a really important piece in the global context. Another speaker reminded us that 700 million people are still hungry today. The ability to move commodities around is a huge factor in supply security. We don’t think it’s a good idea for Europe to restrict trade or imports with “mirror clauses” that are not grounded in science but just in a different way of thinking on agriculture.

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