Syngenta today announced important steps in the implementation of the Accelerating Operational Leverage program announced in February 2014. The program targets global savings of $1 billion by 2018 and has three main pillars: Commercial; Research and Development; and Global Operations. Measures are targeted at enhancing commercial effectiveness, improving the speed of innovation and attaining industry-leading cost efficiency.

The actions being implemented from today will result in job reductions and relocations globally including around 500 operational roles in Basel, of which approximately two thirds will be relocated. The total Swiss employee population is currently 3,400.

Mike Mack, Chief Executive Officer, said: "We are today reporting important steps in the implementation of the first phase of our Accelerating Operational Leverage program. In the short term, this will underpin the realization of initial cost savings in 2015 in the context of a challenging market environment. Longer term, the comprehensive actions announced today will enhance both our commercial effectiveness and the power of our innovation.

"With our strong Swiss roots, we remain committed to Basel as our headquarters and value this country's position as a center for business and innovation, as evidenced by our significant ongoing investments here. We undertake to carry out the planned job reductions and relocations in a socially responsible way."

The strength of Syngenta's commitment to Switzerland is demonstrated by ongoing investment in its Swiss sites including the Basel headquarters, where over CHF 200 million is being spent in order to meet the workplace standards of today and the future. In Stein, AG, one of three major global R&D sites, CHF 46 million has been invested in expanding and developing the facilities. The crop protection factory in Monthey, VS, with over 900 employees, will continue to be Syngenta's largest production site worldwide.