LONDON, July 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- World-leading agri business Syngenta has pointed to strong levels of global demand for its products as it unveiled financial results for the first half of 2009.

The company, based in Basel, Switzerland, has announced reported sales and profits down from its record performance in 2008 but stressed that this underlying performance was 'resilient' given the economic conditions.

Sounding an optimistic note, CEO Mike Mack predicted a strong second half and pointed to a product pipeline worth up to $4 bn.

He told financial broadcaster Cantos: 'The fundamentals for this business remain solidly intact. Population growth, the demand for [the production of] additional food and feed over the next 20 or 30 years and to do so in a sustainable way, means that companies like Syngenta are going to have to bring technology to growers to be able to provide what this planet is going to need.'

The interview and transcript are available now on http://w3.cantos.com/syngenta.

It's free to view. All you need to do is register at http://www.cantos.com. Cantos.com, the online financial broadcaster, features in-depth interviews, documentaries and webcasts with senior company executives. If you would like to contact us, please email enquiries@cantos.com or phone +44(0)207-936-1333.

SOURCE Syngenta