Syngenta Group AI Manifesto 

At Syngenta Group, we believe that human oversight remains the foundation of responsible and safe use of AI, and AI systems should not be deployed as an autonomous solution with high-stakes algorithmic decision-making. We are committed to human oversight in all stages of Artificial Intelligence; design, development, deployment, and post-deployment to ensure all commitments of this Manifesto are followed and implemented.

Syngenta Group is committed to operating at the highest standards of ethics and integrity. The Syngenta Group Code of Conduct sets out the Group’s commitment to fair labor practice, ethics, and integrity, and all AI systems developed, deployed and utilized within the Group must align with these ethical guidelines, and other applicable policies to make sure fundamental human rights are respected, including privacy, equality, and autonomy. The Code of Conduct and other policies, standards, and the implementation of the compliance framework is overseen by the Syngenta Group Ethics and Compliance Board. In addition, employees of Syngenta Group are trained in key compliance policies and required to (re-)certify their commitment to the Code of Conduct annually.

We understand the importance of ensuring a clear understanding of AI technologies. Therefore, we take proactive measures to provide accurate and accessible information about the underlying assumptions, limitations, specific datasets, and essential data properties, including collection and processing methods. 

While proprietary considerations may limit full transparency, we ensure appropriate legal requirements are met and relevant benefits, risks, and potential alternatives clearly communicated up front, including robust documentation, essential for traceability. We aspire to maintain the provenance of data, processes, and artifacts involved in developing AI models, recognizing that the quality and integrity of our work depend on a comprehensive understanding and traceability of all AI development components.

As a global leading agronomy company leveraging AI, Syngenta is committed to take accountability for the responsible development, deployment, and use of AI systems. We strive to minimize the environmental impact of using AI systems through resource and energy optimization. We expect our suppliers to comply with our code of practice when conducting work for us regarding AI.

Acknowledging the rapid pace of AI technology, we deploy risk-based controls and integrate suitable governance and risk mitigation measures, to optimize the gains while minimizing the risks of AI. This includes adherence to evolving regulatory requirements, strong leadership and oversight, clear ethical standards for both external and internal stakeholders, with continuous monitoring.

At Syngenta Group, all AI systems must be used, implemented and designed in a way that ensures fairness and prevents discrimination in all forms, strives to mitigate bias and uphold equity in AI system and process design, decision-making processes and validating AI generated content and outcomes. We employ people with diverse perspectives and backgrounds to ensure fair representation in our work on AI. We collaborate with external stakeholders, such as academia, civil society organizations, and other industry players, to promote knowledge sharing, best practices, and collective efforts towards responsible AI development.

With the foundational role of data in powering AI-enabled systems, Syngenta takes a proactive approach by making privacy a central tenet of our AI development, deployment and usage. To this end, every effort (including, but not limited to required risk assessments) is made to ensure the legal and ethical use of personal data when it is employed, and to safeguard any confidential or proprietary information, both internal and third party, for which Syngenta is considered the data controller.

The confidentiality, integrity, and availability of AI systems are essential to ensure the secure and safe use of data subjected to such systems. To that end, we are committed to uphold information security standards -that are aligned with the objectives and requirements of International Standards on Information Security- during the design, development, deployment, and post-deployment of any AI system. 

Additionally, Cybersecurity awareness training is required for employees to be able to identify malicious use of AI from third parties, for example in phishing attacks.

AI systems must be designed, developed, deployed, and used in a safe and robust way to minimize the potential for harm, with risks carefully managed and monitored to guard against unintended consequences. By integrating safety considerations across all stages of the AI system's development and use, safety by design will support creation of AI technologies that are reliable, secure, compliant, and aligned with our fundamental ethical principles, fostering trust and confidence in their deployment.

Continuous learning and improvement in the field of AI are crucial to empower employees to deploy AI systems to their full potential in a safe and responsible manner. For this purpose, we are committed to providing training and other education offerings for employees regarding AI Ethics, Data Privacy, Cybersecurity, and Intellectual Property, best practices, and industry developments. We believe in the power of AI and encourage all employees to engage with this content to explore the opportunities of AI.

Our customer is at the center of everything that we do and we recognize the importance of leveraging AI to enhance the customer experience, drive innovation, and deliver tailored solutions that meet their evolving needs. We are committed to delivering value to our customers, directly or indirectly, ensuring that every application of AI aligns with our dedication to customer empowerment and satisfaction.