When companies start talking about Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) they mostly do so in the hope of winning back lost legitimacy and credibility. Syngenta, a leading producer of pesticides and genetically modified seeds and a frequent target of civil society indignation and media criticism is no different in this respect.

Having followed Syngenta’s activities since the company’s emergence from a merger in 2000 the Berne Declaration carefully studied their recent CSR report for 2007.