Syngenta's predecessor, Ciba-Geigy, introduced the insecticide Galecron chlordimeform in 1966, and it was removed from the market in 1988. In 1976, Ciba-Geigy told regulatory authorities that it was temporarily withdrawing chlordimeform because ongoing long-term toxicology studies - particularly studies to determine if long-term exposure could cause cancer - showed that it was causing cancer and that it has already started to monitor its workers' exposure and had found chlordimeform and its metabolites in the urine of its workers. Ciba-Geigy then applied for and was granted, permission to market Galecron at lower doses for use only on cotton. However, as further long-term monitoring data was obtained, regulators banned chlordimeform in 1988. In 1995, class action in the US, Ciba-Geigy agreed to cover costs for employee health monitoring and treatment. In 2005, Syngenta reported that employee health monitoring was continuing at the company's Monthey, Switzerland site. Biofuels Like many agriculture companies, Syngenta also works in the biofuel space. In 2011, it announced the corn trait Enogen to reduce the consumption of water and energy versus conventional corn. In 2007, Queensland University in Australia contracted with Syngenta to research different inputs for biofuels as a renewable energy source. Other activities Lobbying Syngenta is in the transparency register of the European Union as a registered lobbyist. For 2017, it declared a €1.5 to €1.75 million expenditure of lobbying in European institutions. Syngenta’s contributions to U.S. federal candidates, parties, and outside groups totaled $140,822 during the 2018 election cycle, ranking it 20th on the list of companies in its sector. Its lobbying expenditures in the U.S. during 2018 were $770,000, ranking it 7th in its sector. Syngenta Foundation In 2001, the company established the Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture. Its purpose is to promote sustainable agriculture, for example by supporting relevant scientific input and analysis in this field. The Syngenta Foundation originated from the former Novartis Foundation. The goals of the Syngenta Foundation are "to work with rural communities in the semi-arid regions of the world and improve their livelihoods." Awards and other recognition In 2007, Syngenta’s Canadian division was named one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers, as published in Maclean’s magazine. In October 2008, Syngenta Crop Protection Canada, Inc. was recognized as one of Waterloo Area’s Top Employers, as announced in the Waterloo Region Record, Guelph Mercury and Cambridge Times. In 2011, Syngenta was named among the top 10 employers in biotechnology by Science