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HomePosts Tagged "Bayer"
Agribusiness, Agrotech, Collaborations, Company News, Digital Technologies, Fruits, Vegetables, World

Starting with synergetic digital offerings for horticulture, the two companies aim to combine strengths in agronomy, irrigation, digital platforms and data modelling to benefit growers.

 Orbia’s Precision Agriculture business Netafim and Bayer announced an expansion of their strategic collaboration, starting with new digital farming solutions for fruit and vegetable growers. By simplifying primary data collection and delivering a system that can generate tailored recommendations from that data, the new solutions aim to help growers maximise crop production and optimise their use of resources, thus minimizing the impact on the environment.

While adoption of digital tools has increased in recent years, those currently available in horticulture are not addressing growers’ needs holistically. Many vegetable and fruit growers experience challenges when switching between multiple software applications, and the siloed nature of today’s solutions are adding complexity to daily activities, rather than simplifying them. As part of the companies’ expanded collaboration, Bayer has developed a new digital platform called HortiView to simplify primary data collection and sharing for the cultivation of fruits and vegetables, enabling growers to benefit from an ecosystem of connected agronomic services that support data-driven decisions and market access.

At the same time, Orbia Netafim has developed irrigation insights to be available through HortiView’s platform. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, these tailored irrigation recommendations are generated uniquely for each grower, based on the primary data they provide in HortiView. The collaboration will also expand to include connectivity to GrowSphere™, Orbia Netafim’s all-in-one irrigation operating system, which features optimized irrigation, crop protection, and fertigation applications.

“Digital technology offers tremendous value in horticulture, but those digital tools rarely work together, and it’s been extremely difficult for growers to use their own data in data models that can help them optimize crop production use,” said Chris Pienaar, Fruit & Vegetable Digital New Value Lead for Bayer’s Crop Science division. “Bayer and Orbia Netafim can address these pain points and provide growers with a platform that can generate tailored recommendations specific to their unique environments, cultivation practices, and crops.”

A small group of grower advisors are currently using the new solutions and providing feedback to inform broader availability in the future. By combining their respective strengths, Orbia Netafim and Bayer aim to benefit horticultural customers with insights powered by primary data, helping them optimize decision-making, maximize crop production, save on agricultural inputs, and drive operational efficiency.

The expanded collaboration builds on a longstanding relationship between Orbia Netafim and Bayer, with a history of successful collaboration on various activities including the Better Life Farming initiative, a crop protection solution for U.S. almond growers and joint projects to support the EU’s Farm2Fork initiative.

On top of their long history and most recent efforts to serve fruit and vegetable growers through digital solutions, Bayer and Orbia Netafim will continue to explore how they can work together to drive better digital connectivity across all types of agriculture and connected value chains.

Ofer Oveed, SVP Technology and Crops, Orbia Precision Agriculture (Netafim) added: “Acting at the forefront of our respective agricultural fields in irrigation, crop protection, agronomy, and digital platforms, we’re delighted to be collaborating with Bayer on combining our agronomic and technological expertise to maximize efforts and help farmers globally tackle today’s challenges, from climate change to rising input costs. By leading the digital farming revolution together, we can deliver food security through sustainable agriculture.”

Starting with synergetic digital offerings for horticulture,

Agribusiness, Collaborations, Company News, India, Inputs, Start ups

Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Bayer and Samunnati aim to provide Indian farmers with access to quality agri-inputs through FPO Agri-input Retail Stores.

 Bayer, a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of healthcare and agriculture, announced its partnership with Samunnati, a leading agri value chain enabler company, dedicated to empowering smallholder farmers, to usher farmers of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) with access to premium products with the goal to deliver optimal solutions to smallholder farmers.

Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Bayer and Samunnati aim to provide Indian farmers with access to quality agri-inputs through FPO Agri-input Retail Stores. As part of the association, FPO farmers will be able to leverage the strength of collectivization, facilitating farmers with ample opportunities to become key stakeholders in the ag value chain.

Samunnati will support in aggregating demand from the FPOs, while Bayer will, once purchase orders are placed by FPOs, fulfill the orders through their distributors, ensure timely and efficient delivery of customized products and solutions. To facilitate easy access to quality inputs, agronomic support, and encourage agri-technology knowledge transfer, Bayer will leverage its field force to actively engage with farmers in the field, thereby supporting the FPOs to build a successful business model.

Together, both parties are committed to empowering farmers with the resources, knowledge and market access they need to thrive. The association aims to create a sustainable and farmer-centric ecosystem for farmers in India, ensuring theyfind reliable markets for their produce, ultimately contributing to their growth and prosperity.

Speaking on the partnership, Mohan Babu, Chief Operating Officer Bayer Crop Science India, Bangladesh & Sri Lanka, said, “FPOs have come a long way in India to become successful entities supporting farmers with aggregating input demand and produce supply. We are glad to join forces with Samunnati who bring in their vast network of FPOs and enable credit to kick-start the FPOs input business, so that their farmers can benefit from Bayer’s high-quality products and agronomy knowledge.”

Commenting on the MoU, Anil Kumar SG, Founder and CEO of Samunnati, said, “We are thrilled to partner with Bayer Crop Science to further empower Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) by improving access to quality inputs and agronomic expertise. This collaboration strengthens Samunnati’s mission to create a resilient agricultural ecosystem that enables smallholder farmers to thrive, improving both their productivity and profitability. By combining Bayer’s expertise in high-quality inputs with Samunnati’s deep-rooted connections in the farming community, we are offering a holistic solution that addresses the key challenges faced by farmers today”

Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Bayer

Agribusiness, Carbon Farming, Collaborations, Company News, Environment, India, Sustainability

The alliance is empowering farmers to adopt climate-smart practices such as Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) and Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) to generate carbon reductions across 9 Indian states.

The Good Rice Alliance (TGRA), formerly known as the Sustainable Rice Carbon Programme, which is focused on advancing sustainable rice farming practices in India, has thus far enrolled more than 10,000 farmers in the program, covering over 25,000 hectares of farmland. It will reduce approximately 100,000+ tCO2e of methane emissions from rice cultivation, annually.

TGRA now aims to expand the program by adding nearly 8,500 hectares, streamlining the scientific measurement of GHG emissions from rice paddies and strengthening the farmer handholding and support system. The program will explore scale-up based on the experiences of the first two years of implementation. Currently, TGRA covers major rice-producing states in the country, like Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Karnataka, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.

Through TGRA, Bayer, a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of agriculture and healthcare, in collaboration with GenZero, a Temasek-owned investment platform company dedicated to accelerating decarbonization globally, Shell Energy India Private Limited, a subsidiary of Shell Plc and investor in nature-based solutions and Mitsubishi Corporation, a global integrated business enterprise that develops and operates businesses which span numerous industrial sectors, are committed to reducing Green House Gas (GHG) emissions through sustainable agricultural practices in rice cultivation.

The program has also managed to reduce cost of cultivation of the majority of the enrolled farmers. In the first year, a scientific GHG measurement study was carried out in six different locations in the country.

Projections indicate that demand will continue to rise, reaching between 330 million and 1.5 billion tCO2e by 2030. The carbon offset platform industry in India is projected to grow at an impressive rate of 28 per cent annually, reaching a market value of US$ 68.5 million by 2033.

Simon Wiebusch, President, Bayer South Asia said, “At Bayer, our mission is to increase agricultural productivity with fewer resources while restoring ecological balance. At The Good Rice Alliance (TGRA) we emphasize that quality is the cornerstone of our mission, which aims to revolutionize rice cultivation practices. With most of the farmers experiencing tangible benefits from adopting regenerative practices, we are hopeful that our collaborative efforts will lead to the widespread adoption of environmentally friendly agricultural practices, fostering thriving communities of smallholder farmers nationwide.”

TGRA is armed with a Quality Management System, a farmer training, support and hand holding mechanism and a Monitoring, Report and Verification (MRV) mechanism which are in place to help maintain program integrity.

Through use of Total Quality Management (TQM) tools all plots are monitored at least thrice a month, to ensure real reduction in emissions is achieved. The alliance prioritizes high-quality implementation to deliver credibility benefits to farmers and is committed to incentivizing farmers financially while safeguarding the environment and improving farmer livelihoods. The program undergoes regular systemic checks, internal audits, and independent verification to ensure genuine emissions reduction.

Suhas Joshi, India Carbon Initiative lead at Bayer said “Increased scrutiny of voluntary carbon markets has highlighted the need for robust, high-quality projects. Achieving excellence requires more than inspiration. It demands perspiration, hard work, attention to detail, and a willingness to tackle the unglamorous tasks. At TGRA, we’re doubling down on the fundamentals of Total Quality Management.”

The alliance is empowering farmers to adopt

Agrotech, Climate, Company News, Industry Reports / Analysis, Inputs, Sustainability, World

2024 Farmer Voice survey, a study among 2,000 farmers across Australia, Brazil, China, Germany, India, Kenya, Ukraine, and the United States, conducted by global market research firm Kynetec on behalf of Bayer.

75 per cent of farmers are already impacted by climate change or worried about its impacts, and 71 percent of them report reduced yields as a major concern. 6 out of 10 have already experienced significant revenue loss due to weather events out of the norm recently. As part of the solution, farmers count on innovation: 75 percent are open to implementing new technologies to better cope with climate change. Desire for better yields, resilient farms, and protected livelihoods are driving interest and adoption of more regenerative and technological approaches to farming.

These are some of the key findings from the 2024 Farmer Voice survey, a study among 2,000 farmers across Australia, Brazil, China, Germany, India, Kenya, Ukraine, and the United States, conducted by global market research firm Kynetec on behalf of Bayer. It reveals the challenges, aspirations, and needs of farmers in times of climate change, digitalization, and economic and political volatility.

Rodrigo Santos, Member of the Board of Management of Bayer AG and President of the Crop Science Division, said: “The Farmer Voice study underlines that farmers continue to face accelerating economic and environmental challenges in their important work – providing food to the world. They want innovation to help them do their jobs better, and an environment in which they can increasingly turn towards regenerative practices making food systems more resilient – to the benefit of the planet, food security, and their livelihoods alike.”

In addition to the global Farmer Voice research, a separate survey was fielded with 1,450 smallholder farmers in India and Indonesia by Q&Q Research Insights, based on a similar questionnaire. The data from that study reveals that farmers in both countries are grappling with input costs, while also facing growing challenges posed by climate change. For Indian smallholders, an increased threat of crop damage from pests, diseases and weeds is their most cited near-term challenge (41 per cent). For Indonesian smallholders, fertilizer costs ranked as their top challenge (73 per cent).

Farmers in both countries are employing some regenerative agricultural practices so far, with about 80 percent of respondents indicating that they use at least one regenerative practice on their farms. Indian farmers use on average between 4 and 5 such practices, while Indonesian farmers are using between 2 and 3 on average. In both countries, a lack of knowledge as well as financial resources are cited among the main barriers to adopt more regenerative practices, although there is strong interest to do so.

Despite all challenges smallholder farmers in India and Indonesia maintain a positive mindset. 89 percent in India and 91 percent in Indonesia consider farming to be a valuable career, taking pride in their role in ensuring food security.

2024 Farmer Voice survey, a study among

Agribusiness, Company News, Sustainability

Spread over 18 hectares, the Bayer ForwardFarm in India is unique as it introduces a convergence of innovative technologies and sustainable interventions specifically designed for smallholder farmers.

Bayer has launched its global initiative, ‘Bayer ForwardFarming’, in India. This is the newest of 29 ForwardFarms worldwide. Each ForwardFarm serves as a beacon of sustainable agricultural practices, providing a platform for farmers, researchers, and stakeholders to collaborate and share knowledge. The Bayer ForwardFarm in India will demonstrate innovative farming techniques tailored to the needs of 150 million smallholder farmers in the country, with a particular focus on sustainable rice cultivation, thus promoting the transition towards regenerative agriculture.

Natasha Santos, Head of Sustainability & Strategic Engagements at Bayer, stated, “Creating value for farmers is at the heart of what we do. We are excited to bring Bayer ForwardFarming to India, a country that is pivotal to global food security. By supporting and empowering local farmers, we aim to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability, increasing food security for all.”

Tailored Solutions for Indian Agriculture

Ved Prakash Saini, the first Bayer ForwardFarm partner in India, expressed his optimism about the partnership: “I am hopeful that the regenerative agricultural practices introduced through Bayer ForwardFarming will lead to significant improvements in my yield and livelihood while making farming more sustainable. Techniques like Direct Seeded Rice and advanced technologies have the potential to enhance crop health, reduce water usage, and increase efficiency. I look forward to witnessing these benefits firsthand as we work together to build a resilient and prosperous future for farming.”

Spread over 18 hectares, the Bayer ForwardFarm in India is unique as it introduces a convergence of innovative technologies and sustainable interventions specifically designed for smallholder farmers. The farm integrates the following practices:

Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) Cropping System: A sustainable alternative to traditional rice cultivation that minimizes soil disturbance, reduces water consumption, and enhances soil health.

Innovative Weed Management: Advanced weed control strategies that reduce reliance on chemical herbicides while maintaining crop health.

Customized Agronomy Systems: Tailored solutions for diverse climatic conditions and soil types, enhancing crop yields and soil health.

Carbon Farming: Practices aimed at capturing and storing carbon in the soil, contributing to climate change mitigation and soil fertility improvement.

Nutrition and Water Management: Advanced techniques to optimize nutrient use and water efficiency, boosting farm productivity while reducing environmental impact.

Vermicompost and IoT: Use of vermicompost to enhance soil health, coupled with IoT technologies for precise monitoring and management of agricultural processes.

Irrigation and Drone Technology: Innovative irrigation techniques and drone technology for optimized water use and precise crop management.

Simon Wiebusch, President, Bayer South Asia mentioned, “At Bayer, we envision a regenerative farming future that restores and enhances the environment. The launch of Bayer ForwardFarming in India is a part of it. By providing farmers with tailored solutions, modern tools and practices, proactive stewardship measures, and strategic partnerships, we aim to boost productivity, improve quality and yields, all while preserving the environment. We are dedicated to empowering farmers to adopt sustainable practices that build a resilient and thriving agricultural sector in India.”

Spread over 18 hectares, the Bayer ForwardFarm

Agribusiness, Company News, R&D, Start ups, World

Within the new Golden Ticket program of Bayer, Genvor to receive fully funded access to lab space and equipment in California

Bayer today announced that the company has selected Genvor Inc., a US-based crop protection business, as the recipient of its first Golden Ticket award. Genvor will receive year-long access to lab space and equipment at Bayer’s LifeHub California @AgStart, one of the premier U.S. AgriFoodTech innovation ecosystems. This will allow Genvor to connect with Bayer mentors and experts in Bayer’s global innovator network.

In addition to their work with biological sprays, Genvor is working with antimicrobial peptide (AMP) technology to make small changes within a genome that could amplify disease resistance and enhance nutrition, from seed to sprout. These seed traits are another way that Genvor is working to provide increased disease resistance and nutrition for crops.

“We’re excited that Genvor has been selected as the winner of our Golden Ticket program, and that we will be working with them to scale and grow their innovations,” said Phil Taylor, Director of Open Innovation and Outreach for Bayer’s Crop Science Division. “Genvor’s proprietary use of antimicrobial peptide technology takes advantage of pathways built-in to crops and has the potential to deliver broad spectrum biological sprays for effective controls of many plant diseases.”

The Golden Ticket program is one of the many ways that Bayer is working with start-ups from around the world to accelerate the delivery of agricultural innovation to farmers. In its first year, it focuses on areas of regenerative agriculture, novel crop protection and efficiency approaches, advanced breeding technologies, and applications of synthetic biology. From a broad field of applicants representing 34 cutting edge technologies and approaches, Genvor was selected to receive the award for their ground-breaking approach to crop protection. Through Bayer’s LifeHub California @AgStart, Genvor will also gain access to excellent equipment, resources, and mentorship as they bring their technologies to market.

“Receiving Bayer’s Golden Ticket is a pivotal moment for us, propelling our pioneering peptide design innovations in crop protection,” said Chad Pawlak, CEO of Genvor. “This support will accelerate our journey towards commercialization, enhancing agricultural sustainability and delivering tangible benefits for farmers and the environment globally.”

Bayer’s global network of LifeHubs is located in hotspots of innovation including Monheim, Lyon, Barcelona, California, and Bangalore. In support of the Crop Science mission, they focus on areas of critical innovation in agriculture such as solutions for smallholder farmers, transparency, and sustainability.

Bayer’s LifeHub California @AgStart focuses on innovations within food production systems, including bringing food to market and new technologies. As a part of the larger AgStart facility which hosts the largest wet-lab incubator for startup companies in California’s Central Valley region, the LifeHub also connects the knowledge and experience of Bayer scientists to the leading innovators of the area to assist in developing new technologies.

Within the new Golden Ticket program of

Agribusiness, Agrotech, Collaborations, Company News, India, Seeds

Agreement focuses on commercialisation and distribution of disease-free, high-quality starting material to smallholder farmers in Kenya and India.

Bayer and Solynta have reached an agreement to collaborate on the commercialisation and distribution of true potato seeds in Kenyan and Indian markets. This partnership marks the entry of Bayer into the 20 million hectares global potato market, and its first collaboration with Solynta, a Dutch company focused on developing robust hybrid potato varieties for the world’s fourth largest crop by global production volume, and one of the most cultivated horticultural crops worldwide.

The collaboration will center around Solynta’s expert knowledge of potato breeding with the development of new robust potato varieties that will thrive in key potato growing geographies. This innovation will allow growers to plant potatoes from true seeds rather than the traditional planting of tubers. Growers will only need 25 grams of clean and disease-free true potato seeds per hectare to start a potato crop, compared to the 2500 kgs of perishable seed tubers previously required. Bayer will utilise its strong presence and distribution channels in the field to commercialize the varieties that are most suitable for these regions. The new hybrid potato varieties will be distributed in the form of true seeds by Bayer to potato growers in the most remote areas of Kenya and India.

 Benefits of True Potato Seeds

The ability to grow potato crops from true potato seeds, instead of from seed tubers, offers significant advantages to the potato industry. Seed tubers are more likely to carry disease or spoil in transit and are more expensive to transport and store. True potato seeds, on the other hand, are clean and disease-free, offering many advantages to the traditional starting materials used in potato growing. True potato seeds also have a shelf life of many years, are much smaller and economical efficient to transport and store. Additionally, true potato seeds are available year-round. Through hybrid breeding, true potato seeds can also be bred with additional beneficial traits, including disease resistances and climate resilience.

For Bayer, the addition of true potato seeds to its portfolio is in line with its regenerative agriculture strategy, focused on building more resilient and sustainable food systems. ‘We are excited to enter the collaboration with Solynta and to further support smallholder farmers,” said Frank Terhorst, Head of Strategy & Sustainability at Bayer’s Crop Science Division “Seed innovation is one of our key focus areas. We expect these true potato seeds to have a positive impact on local communities and on food and nutritional security in Kenya and India.”

“The addition of true potato seeds to our portfolio is a natural progression of the work our team continues to do to support smallholder growers and offer the latest innovations,” said Inci Dannenberg, President, Global Vegetable Seeds, Bayer. “We will utilise our already well-established distribution networks in India and Kenya to get true potato seeds into the hands of growers.”

Peter Poortinga, CEO of Solynta, pointed out that the true potato seeds are the result of almost two decades of work on hybrid potato breeding technology at Solynta. “Hybrid breeding is a proven technology in many existing food crops, which allows fast development of new varieties with desirable traits, such as disease resistances. As a company, we are delighted to join forces with Bayer on the introduction and distribution of our true potato seeds to these markets”, he concluded.

One of the largest challenges facing smallholders in both regions is the lack of high-quality starting material with suitable genetics to grow potatoes to feed their communities and improve their financial position. In both geographies, the need for quality starting materials to grow potatoes exceeds the availability. In Kenya, potato is the number two staple crop, and its growers are dependent on a limited supply of seed tubers which are often carriers of potato diseases.

India is the second largest market for potato in the world. With a fast-growing population and various climate zones within the country, there is a high demand for new robust potato varieties that can withstand potato diseases and are easy to transport. By using Solynta’s true potato seeds, smallholder farmers in both markets will benefit by gaining access to high quality starting material to grow their potatoes and feed their communities.

Agreement focuses on commercialisation and distribution of

Agribiotechnology, Agribusiness, Agrotech, Company News, Digital Technologies, Inputs, R&D, World

Each blockbuster is expected to contribute more than 500 million euros of the over 32-billion-euros peak sales potential in the R&D pipeline – unparalleled across the global agricultural industry.

 Bayer aims to launch ten blockbuster products in the next ten years to support farmers worldwide, the company announced at its 2024 Crop Science innovation update in Chicago. Each blockbuster is expected to contribute more than 500 million euros of the over 32-billion-euros peak sales potential in the R&D pipeline – unparalleled across the global agricultural industry. Farmers will benefit from new technologies that will help them produce more while restoring nature through innovations that power regenerative agriculture.

Unparalleled R&D pipeline with over 32 billion euros peak sales potential includes transformative technologies like the new broad-acre herbicide Icafolin, the biotech version of the Preceon Smart Corn System, fourth-generation corn rootworm technology, fourth- and fifth-generation soybean herbicide tolerance traits as well as third- and fourth-generation insect protection traits. Promoting and scaling regenerative agricultural practices are key to producing more while restoring nature – with R&D and digital technologies being key enablers . As the global innovation leader for agriculture, Bayer is demonstrating how its solutions can support food security and mitigation of climate change

Bayer is on its way to scale regenerative agriculture on more than 400 million acres globally by the middle of the next decade. The company considers regenerative agriculture as an outcome-based production model, with improving soil health as a key component, leading to increased resilience. Other key aspects include increased productivity; adaption and mitigation of climate change through reductions in greenhouse gas emissions; increased carbon sequestration in the soil; maintaining, preserving or restoring on-farm biodiversity; conserving water resources through improved water retention, reduction in water run-off, as well as improved social and economic well-being of farmers and their communities. In addition, Bayer is capitalizing on the opportunity to double its accessible market to more than 200 billion euros, driven by global market growth and investments into ag-adjacent spaces like biofuels, crop fertility, as well as digital platforms and marketplaces.

“Agriculture needs to change for the better, there’s no relying on what has been working in the past. We deliver a combination of unmatched innovation that goes hand in hand with key regenerative practices to help address two of the biggest challenges of our time: ensuring food security for a growing population and fighting climate change,” said Frank Terhorst, Head of Strategy and Sustainability at Bayer’s Crop Science Division.

Bob Reiter, Head of R&D, added: “The age of single and isolated technologies is over. We are focusing on closely connected agricultural systems that combine seeds, traits, crop protection and digital solutions in a smart way to benefit the farmers and the environment. To this end, we are leveraging key technology platforms like gene editing, precision breeding, small molecules and biologicals to deliver products that farmers need to make agriculture more productive while reducing the carbon footprint and fostering biodiversity at a global scale.”

Each blockbuster is expected to contribute more

Agri Genomics, Agribiotechnology, Agribusiness, Company News, R&D, World

The license includes commercialisation rights for the varieties developed by Pairwise and rights to develop new varieties.

The importance of Bayer’s strategic open innovation approach has already been proven, now most recently through a new licensing agreement with US-based pioneering food and agtech startup Pairwise. Bayer has acquired a license from Pairwise that grants rights to work with and commercialise Pairwise’s genome edited mustard greens. These are a mix of colourful leafy greens with a unique, fresh flavour and higher nutrition compared to lettuce, achieved through genome editing. They were the first gene-edited food introduced to the North American market.

“This agreement and its focus on genome-edited produce made a substantial contribution to our open innovation approach. We’re excited to partner with Pairwise on their innovative leafy greens, which deliver a new, great-tasting salad option with high nutrition value,” said JD Rossouw. “The latest deal creates value beyond just selling a product, as it also comes with rights to use the knowledge, intellectual property, and technology going forward.” The license includes commercialisation rights for the varieties developed by Pairwise and rights to develop new varieties.

Open innovation platform for genome editing in vegetables

The collaborations with G+FLAS and Pairwise are an example of a crucial part of Bayer’s innovation strategy: combining Bayer’s leading Research & Development capabilities with knowledge and ingenuity from experts outside the company. As part of this, Bayer has now started another open innovation platform with a focus on genome editing in fruits and vegetables.

“Great innovations need great minds and the power of many. This is why we are seeking to partner with academic researchers and companies to develop new fruit and vegetable products that have increased nutritional content, positive environmental impact, or enhanced consumer appeal by harnessing the speed and precision of genome editing and new breeding techniques,” said JD Rossouw.

The license includes commercialisation rights for the

Agri Genomics, Agribiotechnology, Agribusiness, Company News, Seeds, World

The collaboration leverages G+FLAS’ genome editing technology and Bayer’s proprietary tomato germplasm.

As part of its strategic open innovation approach global life science company Bayer has advanced two initiatives with external partners to bring forward genome editing in vegetables. Bayer and South-Korean biotech company G+FLAS have entered into an agreement to collaborate on developing genome-edited tomato varieties that are nutritionally enhanced with vitamin D3. Vitamin D deficiency is a widespread issue globally, particularly in countries where winter sunlight is limited. It affects an estimated billion people worldwide and can lead to a range of health issues including rickets.

The collaboration leverages G+FLAS’ genome editing technology and Bayer’s proprietary tomato germplasm,” said JD Rossouw, Head of Vegetables Research & Development at Bayer during the World Seed Congress in Rotterdam where the industry gathers from May 27-29.

Part of the agreement is also the ambition to develop seeds for a broader variety of tomato products using genome editing. The technique allows to make changes to a plant’s genome that could also occur in nature or through conventional breeding, but in a more precise and faster way. “Modern breeding technologies, such as genome editing, can provide health benefits and resilience to a changing climate. It is an important new technology in a breeder’s toolbox, and we anticipate it being a part of our pipeline moving forward,” said JD Rossouw.

“Bayer is deeply attuned to what consumers are seeking: Foods that are not only rich in nutrients but also delightful in taste. Our commitment is to deliver on these expectations, which, in turn, provides significant benefits throughout the value chain and enhances the competitiveness of our growers,” stated Ruth Mathieson, Global Head of Strategic Marketing at Bayer Vegetable Seeds. “We are keenly aware of the widespread issue of nutritional deficiencies in diets today. Actively working to bridge this nutritional gap is a driving force behind our growth and innovation strategy.”

The collaboration leverages G+FLAS’ genome editing technology

Agro Universities, Agrotech, Company News, India

The partnership aims to provide farmers agronomic solutions, crop protection, mechanization for Direct Seeded Rice, and precision tools for water-positive practices.

Indian Council of Agricultural Research and Bayer, a Global enterprise with core life science and agriculture competencies, have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the technological advancement of farmers through Krishi Vigyan Kendras. The partnership aims to improve farmers’ livelihoods by providing them with agronomic solutions, crop protection, mechanization for Direct Seeded Rice, and precision tools for water-positive practices. The workshop was organized by ICAR-KVK, Karnal, at the ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal under the Chairmanship of Dr. U.S. Gautam, Deputy Director General, (Agricultural Extension) Divison of Agricultural Extension (ICAR). Dr. Gautam spoke about reimagining the rice cropping in view of the renewed focus on reducing water and carbon footprint in agriculture under Vikshit Bharat initiatives. He further stated that the ICAR-Bayer collaboration is a unique Public-Private-Peasant-Participation (P-P-P-P) initiative that allows ICAR-KVKs and farmers to select and practice the most productive varieties and technologies, aiming to synergize efforts, scale adoption, and ensure sustainable food production for the future.

Dr Dheer Singh, Director ICAR-NDRI Karnal, Dr. R. R. Burman, Assistant Director General (Agricultural Extension) ICAR, Dr. J. P. Mishra, Director, ICAR-ATARI Zone-II, Jodhpur, Dr Parvender Sheoran, Director, ICAR-ATARI Zone-I, Dr. Sangeeta Dawar, Lead Govt Affairs, Bayer, Dr. Ajeet Chahal, Rice Platform Lead, Bayer, and Simon Wiebusch, President, Bayer South Asia along with their team of expert, were also present during the workshop.

The ICAR-KVKs will provide farmers with on-ground assistance for sustainable agriculture and mechanization solutions, aiming to increase their knowledge and awareness of sustainable practices. By enabling them to join carbon credit markets, they can create more income streams and contribute to environmental conservation efforts. The DSR demonstrations will be organized at 46 KVKs spread across 8 States viz., Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Maharashtra during Kharif 2024.

The partnership aims to provide farmers agronomic

Company News, People

Jonathan Margolis has held senior R&D positions in prominent agricultural biotechnology companies

BioPrime Agrisolutions, a leading ag-biotech company announces the appointment of Jonathan Margolis as Scientific Advisor. With over two decades of experience in agricultural biotechnology, Jonathan brings a wealth of scientific expertise and strategic insight to the BioPrime team.

Jonathan Margolis has held senior R&D positions in prominent agricultural biotechnology companies, demonstrating his exceptional leadership and contribution to the industry. Most recently, he served as the Chief Scientific Officer at Joyn Bio for four years, where he played a pivotal role in advancing the company’s scientific initiatives and driving innovation in agricultural biotechnology.

Before his tenure at Joyn Bio, Jonathan spent six years as the Head of Research Technologies, Biologics, at Bayer Crop Science Division. During his time at Bayer, he spearheaded research and development efforts, contributing to the development of cutting-edge technologies and products aimed at enhancing crop protection and agricultural sustainability.

Before his tenure at Bayer, Jonathan held the position of Senior Vice President, of R&D at AgraQuest, Inc., where he made significant contributions to the development of some of the most successful biologicals used in the market today. His expertise and leadership were instrumental in shaping the company’s research and development strategies, leading to groundbreaking innovations in agricultural biotechnology.

Jonathan Margolis has held senior R&D positions

Agrotech, Collaborations, Company News, Digital Technologies, India, Inputs, Supply Chain

The partnership will support farmers in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala in the first phase of execution.

 Bayer, a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of healthcare and agriculture, announced its partnership with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)’s Common Service Center (CSC-SPV), a strategic cornerstone of the National e-governance plan which aims to usher rural India into a digitally empowered era and foster a knowledge-based economy. The strategic collaboration aims to provide Indian farmers with access to quality agri-inputs through digital capability building and strengthen rural livelihoods and farm incomes. The partnership will support farmers in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala in the first phase of execution. Besides access to the entire range of Bayer’s agri-solutions from seed to harvest, farmers can also avail of crop-specific agronomic advisory through CSC’s online platform.

As part of the MoU, Smallholder farmers will be able to access timely crop advisory, transfer of good agricultural practices and access to premium Bayer products through CSC’s online portal. Gram Unnati will facilitate farmer mobilization and ensure market linkages. Together, Bayer and CSC-SPV aim to empower over 500,000 (0.5 million) smallholder farmers over the next two years. To facilitate easy access to quality inputs, agronomic support, and encourage agri-technology knowledge transfer based on the latest practices, Bayer will also nurture agri-entrepreneurs by leveraging village-level entrepreneurs of CSCs from within the local communities. The newly announced partnership follows an ongoing pilot engagement project running between Better Life Farming centres and CSC in Jharkhand’s Lohardega district since late 2020.

Simon-Thorsten Wiebusch, President, Bayer South Asia said, “Smallholder farmers are vital in ensuring food and nutritional security in the country and Bayer is dedicated to empowering them through the expansion of access to essential agricultural inputs and expert agronomic guidance, driven by digital innovation and collectivization. Our association with the Government of India’s Common Service Center and Gram Unnati will help bring us closer to our shared goal of empowering farmers as we bridge the gap to remote farming communities, promote financial literacy and foster an entrepreneurial spirit leading to optimized resource utilization, and maximizing farm potential to enhance their livelihoods sustainably.”

Sanjay Rakesh, MD & CEO, CSC-SPV said, “We are excited to collaborate with Bayer and strengthen our e-commerce platform to scale support to smallholder farmers through our technology-powered ecosystem. By leveraging our synergies with Bayer Crop Science Limited, we envision sustained enhancements in rural agriculture within the identified centres. This partnership will enable last mile access to tailored solutions, to better support the rural community and agri-entrepreneurs.”

Aneesh Jain, Founder & CEO, Gram Unnati said: “We are extremely delighted to work with Bayer CropScience and CSC e-Governance to play the role of a key facilitator in this ground-breaking association. We are already developing a system with CSC e-Governance to enable farmers to sell their end produce through the VLE network. This collaboration will enable farmers to get timely access to high quality agri inputs, thus further improving their crop quality and yields too.”

The CSC scheme, a collaborative e-governance platform, is part of the Digital India programme. The Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) aims to facilitate the delivery of government, private and social sector services to Indian citizens through the CSC network. It supports linkages, connecting villages in India through high-speed internet and scaling the delivery of products & services to reach the last mile.

The partnership will support farmers in Telangana,

Agbiologicals, Agribusiness, Collaborations, Company News, World

Via new agreement with AlphaBio Control, Bayer gains exclusive rights to market the first ever biological insecticide which will help farmers control pests in arable crops.

Bayer announced today that it has signed an agreement with UK-based company AlphaBio Control to secure an exclusive license for a new biological insecticide. The new product will be the first available for arable crops, including oilseed rape and cereals. Targeted for initial launch in 2028 pending further development and registration, this new insecticide was discovered by AlphaBio, with whom Bayer distributes FLiPPER® an award-winning bioinsecticide-acaricide.

“Farmers need innovative new solutions as they seek to continue to feed a growing population, overcome the impacts of climate change, and meet enhanced safety and sustainability standards,” said Benoit Hartmann, Head of Biologics at Bayer’s Crop Science Division. “Biocontrols are a perfect fit to our approach to scaling regenerative agriculture, and we’re excited to work to bring a new biological crop protection option to farmers that can be used for arable crops.”

The new bioinsecticide has potential for use against coleoptera insects like the cabbage stem flea beetle (CSFB), a pest insect that can damage oilseed rape crops throughout the growing season and even cause seedling death. The beetle is widespread in the United Kingdom and throughout much of Europe, and damage caused by adult CSFB feeding gives rise to ‘shot-holing’ symptoms which affect young plants and early leaves, resulting in stunted growth and poor plant health.

“We are delighted to license Bayer exclusive rights to our latest bioinsecticide which will significantly improve the choices available to arable farmers wishing to reduce the environmental impact of food production,” said Marta Ruiz, General Manager for AlphaBio Control.”

While many biological options are available for high-value vegetable and horticulture crops, where their cost can be offset by consumer-supported price premiums, arable crops require solutions that can be applied cost-effectively at larger scale in order to be competitive. Bayer’s systems approach, which combines various solutions, will help to maximize the cost efficiencies of this new product by including it in a digitally-supported integrated pest management system.

“With increasingly strong demand from farmers and changing consumer preferences, we see major growth potential for biological crop protections like this one,” said Ralf Glaubitz, Head of Global Asset Management for Seed Growth & Biologics at Bayer’s Crop Science Division. “We’re working to outgrow the market and achieve more than 1.5 billion euro in biological sales by 2035. That’s only going to happen if we innovate to solve the challenges that farmers face in all fields.”

The as-yet-unnamed biological insecticide will also be a supporting part of Bayer’s commitment to help reduce the environmental impact of crop protection products by 30 percent by 2030 without negatively impacting crop yields and health.

Via new agreement with AlphaBio Control, Bayer