In an exclusive interview with Sina Finance during the 2025 World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Svein Tore Holsether, President and CEO of Yara International, shared his insights. Holsether believes that amidst persistent geopolitical volatility, climate change, and macroeconomic uncertainties, the key responsibility for corporate leaders lies in focusing on areas they can genuinely influence. By leveraging technology, innovation, and industry collaboration, they can inject greater resilience into the global agricultural system.

Yara International Group is the world's largest producer and supplier of plant nutrition, offering efficient and responsible solutions for agriculture and the environment. Headquartered in Oslo, Norway, the company currently sells over 600,000 tons of fertilizer annually in China. Reflecting on this year's Davos meeting, Holsether observed that global business environment uncertainty has intensified compared to the previous year. "The continuous volatility of the past few years has impacted everyone, and this situation has carried over into this year," he stated. "But as business leaders, we cannot be overwhelmed by uncontrollable external factors; instead, we must concentrate on what we can truly influence and change." In his view, Yara's core mission is to continuously enhance the resilience of both the company and its value chain within a highly volatile environment, with agriculture and farmers remaining the central focus. This principle has never changed. Holsether revealed that for Yara, 2025 is a year where several long-term strategic projects are becoming a reality. Among the most notable is Yara's imminent launch of Europe's largest industrial carbon capture and storage (CCS) project. With an annual carbon dioxide capture capacity of approximately 800,000 tons, this project is set to become critical infrastructure for industrial emissions reduction in Europe. In the shipping sector, Yara will also launch the world's first ammonia-fueled container ship. Currently under construction in China, the vessel is seen as a significant milestone for the energy transition in the shipping industry. Furthermore, Yara is advancing the construction of a biologicals production plant in the UK, which has now entered the final stages of financing. "These projects are not only part of our own corporate transformation but also demonstrate how we are translating long-term strategy into tangible action," Holsether told Sina Finance. Addressing skepticism about whether technology genuinely delivers financial returns for farmers, Holsether expressed that he was "surprised" by such doubts. "We are in the midst of a fourth agricultural revolution, and this one is driven by technology and artificial intelligence," he asserted. "If you ask which profession stands to benefit most from AI, farmers are certainly among the top contenders." He explained that agricultural production involves multiple complex variables, including soil health, crop yields, climate change, and commodity price fluctuations. Farmers frequently need to make high-frequency decisions within a natural environment. The value of AI lies in its ability to integrate these highly complex data streams into actionable tools, thereby simplifying farmers' daily work. Yara already extensively utilizes satellite imagery, drones, data modeling, and precision agriculture tools to help farmers improve efficiency, stabilize yields, and enhance their ability to cope with extreme weather events. "In an increasingly data-driven and scientifically-oriented world, we possess the right products and capabilities. What I see are very substantial opportunities," he said. Discussing developments in technology and agriculture within China, Holsether did not hide his profound admiration. He recalled leading his entire management team on a visit to China in March 2024 to observe firsthand the application of technology in agriculture. "I told my team that this would be a journey into the future," he shared. After a week of research, the team reached a strong consensus – it was indeed a "trip to the future." "The speed of technology scaling, the depth of its integration into agricultural production, and the tangible results of its application in China are all extremely impressive," he remarked. He specifically highlighted a Chinese melon grower collaborating with Yara. By combining advanced technology, crop nutrition management, and data analysis, this farmer not only increased yield and quality but also achieved earlier fruit maturity, allowing the melons to enter the market ahead of competitors and gain a significant advantage. "When you bring all these elements together, you realize this is the future of agriculture," Holsether stated. Consequently, Yara views China as a vital component of the global agricultural future and is continuously increasing its investment in the Chinese market. When asked about geopolitical issues, a major current focus in Europe, Holsether argued that entrepreneurs should adhere to the fundamental logic of corporate response. "Geopolitical instability is becoming the new normal," he commented. "We cannot be led astray by all the uncontrollable events; instead, we must focus on the areas we can influence." For him, this means continuously strengthening supply chain resilience, building long-term, stable partnerships with farmers, and promoting agricultural development in a sustainable manner – this is also his primary focus at present. Concluding the interview, Holsether spoke with Sina Finance about the upcoming Summer Davos Forum in Dalian. As one of the co-chairs for this year's forum, he expressed great anticipation. "It is a tremendous honor, and I am very much looking forward to visiting Dalian," he said. Although he previously lived in Hong Kong for a year and has visited areas near Shenyang, Dalian remains a city he has yet to explore. In his view, the key difference between the Summer and Winter Davos forums is that the former offers closer proximity to China's domestic development and innovation practices, particularly concerning topics like youth entrepreneurship, technological innovation, and China's connections with the world. "These are topics I care deeply about and am very passionate about," he added. Finally, Holsether revealed that, based on the research and learning from their March trip to China, Yara has decided to further expand its business footprint in the country and deepen cooperation with Chinese farmers. "We have some very exciting developments coming up, but I cannot disclose details just yet," Holsether concluded, creating a cliffhanger. "More news will be announced in the coming months, and you will be among the first to know."