Bayer pushing for more regenerative ag

Jun 19, 2024

Bayer unveils Ag tech for food security

By Farms.com

Bayer's Crop Science Division is making a significant push towards regenerative agriculture with a robust R&D pipeline aiming to launch ten "blockbuster" products by 2034. These products, each with a projected peak sales potential exceeding $570 million (USD), target critical areas to enhance food security and environmental well-being.

Bayer’s emphasizes improved soil health through sustainable practices, leading to increased farm resilience and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, Bayer is committed to water conservation and biodiversity support within agricultural ecosystems.

Ten Blockbusters for a Sustainable Future

The R&D pipeline is built on three pillars:

Annual Portfolio Refresh: This includes introducing 400-500 new seed hybrids and varieties, along with 90-100 novel crop protection formulations, each year. This core business growth strategy is expected to contribute over half of the pipeline's value.
Breakthrough Products: This pillar focuses on entirely new products with blockbuster potential. Examples include the Preceon Smart Corn System, with its improved standability and projected peak sales exceeding $1.7 billion (USD). It offers farmers better crop protection, easier access during the growing season, and potentially higher yields.
Strategic Collaborations: Bayer fosters partnerships to leverage cutting-edge technologies like gene editing and biological solutions. For instance, the company's collaboration with Pairwise is developing a gene-edited version of Preceon to cater to various global markets.

Innovation Highlights

Preceon Smart Corn System: This innovation promises to transform corn production globally. It boasts improved resistance to wind and harsh weather conditions due to its shorter stature.
Next-Generation Insect Control Traits: These traits offer a combined peak sales potential exceeding $1.1 billion (USD). They include the fourth and fifth generations of Lepidoptera control, alongside a novel fourth-generation solution against corn rootworm, a devastating pest capable of causing yield losses of up to 45% for U.S. farmers.
Soybean Systems with Improved Resistance Mechanisms: These systems provide excellent productivity and quality with integrated pest control and herbicide tolerance options. This empowers farmers to reduce insecticide use and adopt no-till farming practices, promoting soil health and carbon sequestration.

Transforming Key Food Crops

Direct-Seeded Rice (DSR) System: This system can significantly reduce water usage (up to 40%), greenhouse gas emissions (up to 45%), and dependence on manual labor (up to 50%) compared to traditional puddled rice cultivation. Bayer aims to bring DSR to nearly 2.5 million acres in India by 2030, supporting millions of smallholder rice farmers.
Hybrid Wheat: This represents a significant opportunity to bolster sustainable production and global food security. Bayer is progressing with its internal breeding programs and a strategic partnership with RAGT, a leading European player in varietal wheat.

CropKey: A New Era in Crop Protection

CropKey is Bayer's revolutionary approach to developing next-generation crop protection solutions. It utilizes virtual screening and computational modeling to design molecules specifically targeting pests, weeds, or fungi. This method has significantly enriched the research pipeline across all indications. The first product leveraging CropKey is Icafolin, a new post-emergent herbicide with a peak sales potential exceeding $840 million (USD).

Digital Solutions for Sustainable Practices

Bayer is actively integrating digitalization into its strategies. Climate FieldView, with subscriptions exceeding 250 million crop acres globally, has become a vital decision-making tool for farmers. Additionally, collaborations like AgPowered Services with Microsoft provide cloud-based solutions for the food value chain.

By implementing these advancements, Bayer aspires to revolutionize agriculture, ensuring food security for a growing population while safeguarding our planet.

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