Sowing the seeds of innovation
Bringing advanced and sustainable onion seeds to the world’s growers
Ryan Walker understands farming from the ground up. On his family's 400-acre farm in Idaho, in northwest United States, where generations have worked the soil, he continues a legacy of agricultural knowledge passed down from father to son.
For Walker, every seed decision carries weight – the kind of weight you can only understand when your livelihood depends on the harvest. But Walker brings more than just farming wisdom to the fields. As Syngenta's Global R&D Lead for Roots & Bulbs, he has led the company’s foray into the global onion seed industry.
“I try to develop better solutions for growers. As a farmer, I know their challenges,” Walker says.
This dual perspective – farmer and innovator – has proved valuable in shaping Syngenta's strategic partnership with Emerald Seed Company, a collaboration that promises to bring innovative seeds to major onion producers worldwide.
The global onion market spans 175 countries, producing over 100 million metric tons annually, worth $4.5 billion. China leads production with 24 million metric tons, followed closely by India at 22 million, with the United States third. But behind these impressive numbers lies a crop that poses unique challenges to growers worldwide – challenges that this partnership aims to address.
Ryan Walker, farmer and Syngenta's Global R&D Lead for Roots & Bulbs.
Ryan Walker, farmer and Syngenta's Global R&D Lead for Roots & Bulbs.
The global onion market produces more than 100 million metric tons annually, worth $4.5 billion.
The global onion market produces more than 100 million metric tons annually, worth $4.5 billion.
Ryan Walker understands farming from the ground up. On his family's 400-acre farm in Idaho, in northwest United States, where generations have worked the soil, he continues a legacy of agricultural knowledge passed down from father to son.
For Walker, every seed decision carries weight – the kind of weight you can only understand when your livelihood depends on the harvest. But Walker brings more than just farming wisdom to the fields. As Syngenta's Global R&D Lead for Roots & Bulbs, he has led the company’s foray into the global onion seed industry.
“I try to develop better solutions for growers. As a farmer, I know their challenges,” Walker says.
This dual perspective – farmer and innovator – has proved valuable in shaping Syngenta's strategic partnership with Emerald Seed Company, a collaboration that promises to bring innovative seeds to major onion producers worldwide.
The global onion market spans 175 countries, producing over 100 million metric tons annually, worth $4.5 billion. China leads production with 24 million metric tons, followed closely by India at 22 million, with the United States third. But behind these impressive numbers lies a crop that poses unique challenges to growers worldwide – challenges that this partnership aims to address.
Ryan Walker, farmer and Syngenta's Global R&D Lead for Roots & Bulbs.
Ryan Walker, farmer and Syngenta's Global R&D Lead for Roots & Bulbs.
Partnering for innovation
Two thousand miles from Walker's Idaho farm, in California's Imperial Valley, Mike Dessert has spent more than three decades honing his expertise in onion breeding at Emerald Seed Company. But his knowledge extends far beyond American soil.
Dessert's international career has given him firsthand experience with various onion classes and growing conditions across Asia, North America, Africa and Latin America – crucial in developing innovative and resilient varieties for different climates and market preferences.
The company’s 15-hectare research facility in El Centro has become a hub where Dessert’s knowledge shapes every aspect of its breeding program. The region’s warm climate, abundant sunshine, and fertile soil create ideal conditions for agricultural research and seed production. Specializing in short-day yellow, white, and red onions, Emerald’s expertise extends beyond onions to crops such as broccoli and cucumbers.
"Onion breeding is a complex blend of art and science that requires a broad understanding of diverse markets around the world, environmental factors, crop biology and cropping systems," Dessert explains, standing amid test plots where researchers evaluate new varieties.
The complexity he speaks of is evident in the onion crop's demanding nature – they are remarkably sensitive to latitude, in addition to other climatic variables, with bulb formation depending on specific daylight hours. For instance, short-day varieties need 11-12 hours, intermediate varieties require 12-14 hours, and long day varieties require 14 or more hours.
This sensitivity creates distinct challenges across global markets. In Asia, where pungent varieties with high dry matter content are preferred, farmers face different challenges than their European counterparts, who must meet consumer demand for milder, sweeter onions. Latin American growers need varieties that combine strong flavor with storage capabilities for their market's unique requirements.
Global impact
The partnership's impact reaches beyond commercial farming. In developing nations across Africa and Asia, subsistence farmers – who rely on their produce to feed themselves and support their families – have historically struggled with limited access to resilient, moderately-priced seed options. These farmers feed nearly 40 percent of the world's population.
By pairing Emerald’s proven seed varieties with Syngenta’s global footprint, the partnership is making high-quality seeds accessible to those who need them most.
Commercial growers, who operate on tight margins and require reliable yields, also stand to benefit. The combined expertise of Syngenta and Emerald ensures that seeds are rigorously tested across various climates and conditions, reducing the chance of a crop failing and boosting profitability for growers.
For growers constantly pushing the boundaries of yield and quality, the partnership offers advanced solutions to tackle emerging challenges like climate variability and disease resistance.
Tackling persistent challenges
Emerald’s work on disease resistance shows its commitment to solving persistent industry challenges. Pink Root Rot (PRR), caused by the fungus Phoma terrestris, causes roots to turn pink and eventually rot. Infected plants often produce smaller bulbs, leading to a significant reduction in overall yield.
Foliar diseases such as botrytis leaf blight, stemphylium blight, and downy mildew also cause major losses for growers around the world. Emerald's breeding program has successfully developed more resilient varieties that guard against these diseases, ensuring healthier plants and more reliable yields.
Foliar diseases cause major losses for onion growers around the world.
Foliar diseases cause major losses for onion growers around the world.
Climate change poses perhaps the greatest threat to future onion production. Global warming threatens to reduce yields in traditional growing regions, making the development of resilient varieties crucial for future food security. The partnership's researchers are already working on varieties that can withstand temperature variations while maintaining yield stability.
"We're not just developing seeds for today's challenges," Walker explains. "We're anticipating what farmers will need five, 10, and even 20 years from now." Early trials of climate-resilient varieties and advanced seed treatments show promise, with yield improvements under stress conditions.
This partnership is ultimately about understanding and responding to growers’ needs at every level—from subsistence growers in rural Asia to commercial farmers in California.
By combining Emerald’s two decades of specialized breeding expertise with Syngenta’s global research, distribution, and commercial capabilities, the partnership is creating solutions that make onion farming more accessible, reliable, and sustainable for growers worldwide.
Tackling persistent challenges
Emerald’s work on disease resistance shows its commitment to solving persistent industry challenges. Pink Root Rot (PRR), caused by the fungus Phoma terrestris, causes roots to turn pink and eventually rot. Infected plants often produce smaller bulbs, leading to a significant reduction in overall yield.
Foliar diseases such as botrytis leaf blight, stemphylium blight, and downy mildew also cause major losses for growers around the world. Emerald's breeding program has successfully developed more resilient varieties that guard against these diseases, ensuring healthier plants and more reliable yields.
Foliar diseases cause major losses for onion growers around the world.
Foliar diseases cause major losses for onion growers around the world.
Climate change poses perhaps the greatest threat to future onion production. Global warming threatens to reduce yields in traditional growing regions, making the development of resilient varieties crucial for future food security. The partnership's researchers are already working on varieties that can withstand temperature variations while maintaining yield stability.
"We're not just developing seeds for today's challenges," Walker explains. "We're anticipating what farmers will need five, 10, and even 20 years from now." Early trials of climate-resilient varieties and advanced seed treatments show promise, with yield improvements under stress conditions.
This partnership is ultimately about understanding and responding to growers’ needs at every level—from subsistence growers in rural Asia to commercial farmers in California.
By combining Emerald’s two decades of specialized breeding expertise with Syngenta’s global research, distribution, and commercial capabilities, the partnership is creating solutions that make onion farming more accessible, reliable, and sustainable for growers worldwide.
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