Bayer recently announced its pipeline project advancements and newly unveiled research in a dedicated research and development (R&D) pipeline update for the Crop Science Division.
In 2019, Bayer's pipeline delivered 55 key project and formulation advancements while providing farmers around the world with more than 450 newly commercialized hybrids and varieties of corn, soybeans, cotton and vegetables. Bayer's annual investment of 2.3 billion Euros in crop science R&D powers the most productive pipeline in the industry, said a news release shared here on Friday.
"At Bayer, we are driven to help solve some of the world's toughest challenges. In agriculture, this means helping feed the world without starving our planet. Farmers with operations of all sizes need innovation not only to grow enough nutritious food, but also to do this in a sustainable manner that respects our planetary boundaries," said Liam Condon, member of the Bayer Board of Management and president of the Crop Science Division. "Our employees are united around this goal, and our unrivaled pipeline is delivering against it."
Bayer announced a new herbicide molecule: the first new post-emergence mode of action for broad acre weed control in 30 years. Multiple MOAs for weed control are important for managing herbicide resistance and enabling practices that help to sequester greenhouse gases, like no-till farming.
Discovering new herbicide MOAs has been a challenge for the industry, but Bayer's continued investment, leading compound library and advanced screening capabilities have enabled a breakthrough.
Bayer announced a molecule in Phase 2 of early development which has demonstrated effective control of key resistant grasses in early research. The work demonstrates progress toward Bayer's long-term commitment to investing approximately 5 billion Euros in additional methods to combat weeds over the next decade.
Discovery of this molecule is being complemented by a discovery-phase programme to identify and develop a corresponding biotechnology trait to convey herbicide tolerance and initial approaches are under evaluation.
Bayer's short stature corn is expected to provide environmental sustainability benefits through a transformational shift in crop management flexibility. Because it is several feet shorter than today's hybrid field corn, the product concept allows farmers to have better in-season crop access for precision applications of inputs, such as nitrogen, which can be made when the plant needs them most.
Some short stature corn hybrids can also be planted closer together, enabling the production of more corn on the same amount of land and potentially reducing requirements for land and water. Shorter stature will also help improve standability, including better green snap and stalk lodging tolerance, helping reduce crop loss from challenging environmental conditions such as high winds from extreme weather.
Bayer announced that both the breeding and biotechnology approaches to create short stature corn are advancing to Phase 3 and also unveiled a third pathway to short stature corn, a Discovery Phase project that has achieved proof of concept through gene editing.
Bayer views investment in innovation as investment in more sustainable agriculture for the next generation, said the news release.
Bayer innovation focuses on producing more on each acre, reducing the environmental impact of farming, and enabling better-informed decisions through data. The company's commitment to sustainability also includes making innovation available and applicable to farmers with operations of all sizes, all over the world.
"We are converting R&D into solutions for farmers that enhance productivity, create new value and reduce the use of inputs necessary to produce a crop," said Bob Reiter, head of R&D for the Crop Science Division.
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