New RAGT agreement supports hybrid wheat launch across key markets
Bayer has announced a new licensing agreement with RAGT, a major wheat seed company in Europe, to accelerate the development and commercialization of hybrid wheat. The partnership is expected to support Bayer’s plans to introduce hybrid wheat varieties across Europe and North America by the early 2030s.
The agreement provides Bayer with access to elite wheat germplasm suited to European growing conditions. This will strengthen the company’s wheat breeding efforts and help develop improved seed varieties designed to meet future farming challenges.
“Wheat is one of the most important staple food crops in the world. But wheat production has stagnated and is coming under pressure from prolonged drought and heatwaves, such as the one we just experienced in Europe. At the same time, sturdier hybrid varieties of wheat are still not widely available,” said Peter Mueller, Cereals, Cotton, Canola/OSR & Biofuels Lead at Bayer’s Crop Science division.
He continued, “Our deal with RAGT is about to change that. Combining RAGT’s top performing germplasm and know-how with our breeding capabilities will significantly boost and expand our pipeline of hybrid wheat varieties, allowing us to compete in a rapidly evolving market. With the North American program in full gear, we will deliver higher value to growers on both sides of the Atlantic.”
Hybrid wheat is considered one of the biggest growth opportunities in global crop production. Wheat is the most widely grown food crop in the world and remains a key source of nutrition for billions of people. However, wheat production faces increasing pressure from climate-related challenges such as drought, heat stress, and changing weather patterns.
Through this collaboration, Bayer plans to combine advanced breeding technologies, seed production expertise, agronomic knowledge, and digital tools to create a stronger wheat system for farmers. The company will focus on winter wheat in Europe and both winter and spring wheat in North America.
A major benefit of hybrid wheat is its ability to increase productivity without requiring additional land or resources. Early hybrid wheat varieties are expected to deliver yield improvements of about 10 percent compared to conventional wheat varieties, with further gains possible as technology advances.
Hybrid wheat can also improve crop reliability. Stronger root systems and faster early growth may help crops better withstand disease, pests, weeds, drought, and high temperatures.
The agreement reflects growing industry efforts to improve food production and sustainability. As global demand for wheat continues to rise, hybrid wheat technology could play an important role in helping farmers produce more grains while adapting to increasingly challenging environmental conditions.
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