Eva Popov

To protect harvests and feed a global population nearing 10 billion, Syngenta has transformed its R&D engine into a high-velocity powerhouse of discovery. At the heart of this transformation is Gaia, our award-winning federated Data Mesh platform built on Databricks. By unifying R&D data on a shared foundation, we have radically democratized access to scientific information, shifting the organization from chasing data to driving discovery with the speed and confidence needed to tackle global food security. Gaia provides an AI-ready landscape where scientists explore diverse data products instantly - from molecular research to drone and real-world field data. Researchers analyze genomic patterns to identify resilient active ingredients; engineers optimize formulations for stability; and field teams integrate IoT telemetry to validate product performance across climates. The platform also streamlines regulatory submissions and tracks environmental impact across our pipeline. This technical evolution is fuelled by a cultural one: the Digital Growth Academy, fostering a "CODE" culture (Curious, Open, Data-centric, Empowered). Today, Gaia supports 500+ self-serve users and powers 100+ downstream applications and it has created a repeatable model for sustainable agriculture innovation.