Syngenta: Films
Two real rounds of short films Cumi made for Syngenta with Radley Yeldars' Moving Image team, painstakingly cutting out and recreating elements of Syngenta's own photo library to bring real farmer stories to life around the world. Syngenta describe themselves as "one of the world's leading companies with more than 25,000 employees in over 90 countries dedicated to our purpose: Bringing plant potential to life," helping "increase crop productivity, protect the environment and improve health and quality of life" through "world-class science, global reach and commitment to our customers." An undated earlier round told 4 stories: Bangladesh (farmers trained to use a simple pipe to monitor water levels and cut down on flooding rice fields — "Bangladesh required the most work, at times we cut out single blades of grass and recreated whole fields"), France (Olivier Cottet's team, working over 6 years to breed a high-yielding, drought-tolerant sunflower), Kenya (Humphrey Kiruaye introducing local farmers to new technologies and better farming techniques), and USA (how Syngenta products help farmers protect crops from weeds, insects and disease). A 2011 follow-up round, credited as "another round of short films for Syngenta's website," told 4 more: Brazil, India, Cameroon and a second USA story. All 8 of these real country films (four from each round, including two distinct films both set in the USA) are shown below, each under its own real country name.
Bangladesh
Farmers are trained in how to use a simple pipe to monitor water levels in their fields, cutting down on the need to flood rice fields. "Bangladesh required the most work, at times we cut out single blades of grass and recreated whole fields." Caption: "Bangladesh, Using natural resources responsibly" (1 min 42 sec, English dub).
France
Olivier Cottet works closely with his team to understand the needs of a variety of customers — over 6 years, they produced a high-yielding sunflower that still brings a sizeable crop even in drought-prone areas. Caption: "France, Improving crop quality" (1 min 49 sec, English dub).
Kenya
Humphrey Kiruaye works closely with local farmers, introducing them to new technologies and better farming techniques, and how they work with local communities to help them provide for their families. Caption: "Kenya, Benefits For Rural Communities" (1 min 30 sec, English dub).
USA (round one)
Focuses on how Syngenta products help farmers increase yield by protecting their crops from weeds, insects and disease. Caption: "USA, Increasing Yields Through Technology" (1 min 41 sec, German dub).
Cameroon
One of four films from Syngenta's 2011 follow-up round with Cumi and Radley Yeldars' Moving Image team, telling a real farmer story from Cameroon (2 min 12 sec).
India
One of four films from Syngenta's 2011 follow-up round with Cumi and Radley Yeldars' Moving Image team, telling a real farmer story from India (2 min 10 sec).
USA (round two)
The second of two distinct Syngenta films set in the USA — this one from the 2011 follow-up round (1 min 37 sec), a different film from the earlier "Increasing Yields Through Technology" film above.
Brazil
One of four films from Syngenta's 2011 follow-up round with Cumi and Radley Yeldars' Moving Image team, telling a real farmer story from Brazil (1 min 23 sec).
Credits
- Animation
- Cumi
- Agency
- Radley Yeldars (Moving Image team)
- Client
- Syngenta