Growing global weed resistance poses new challenges for agriculture
January 19, 2010
Miami, January 19, 2010 – Experts from universities, industry and Bayer CropScience attended the first Pan American Weed Conference to share concepts and innovative herbicide technologies from January 19 – 21 in Miami. The Pan American Weed Resistance Conference brought together some 200 scientists, universities and research institutions and practitioners from North and South America to exchange experiences in dealing with weed resistance and the propagation of practical and sustainable solutions.
Innovative solutions were presented at this unique international conference that offer farmers effective and sustainable ways of controlling weeds in many major crops. Solutions include new technologies from Bayer CropScience that are designed to combat growing resistance to products such as glyphosate and the danger of herbicide-resistant weed biotypes spreading. The main crops affected in the Americas – from Canada to Chile – which are economically include cotton, wheat, soybeans, canola and corn.
Bayer CropScience is one of the world’s leading innovative companies in the agricultural industry and number three in the global herbicides market. To strengthen its basis for future growth the company plans to further expand its research activities by increasing its annual R&D spending to over CAN 1 billion in the medium term.
Innovative approaches to controlling weeds are urgently needed in view of the growing global problem of resistance. “Bayer CropScience has identified new challenges in resistance management and is increasing its investment in research and development,” said Dr. Rüdiger Scheitza, Member of the Board of Management of Bayer CropScience AG and responsible for Global Portfolio Management, when he welcomed delegates to the conference. “All our research activities take a comprehensive and future-oriented approach, and our aim is to provide farmers all over the world with new diagnostic tests, herbicides with new modes of action, and a wider choice of high-performing traits.”
Another important element in the company’s weed resistance management strategy is the outlicensing of in-house developed traits. This gives other companies access to technologies developed by Bayer CropScience. Four long-term licensing agreements concluded with high-profile partners between 2007 and 2009 represent a cumulative business potential in excess of EUR 500 million. They underline the company’s leading role as an integrated supplier of innovative solutions, and equip it to respond in the future to shifts in added value in individual crops between the components “chemical crop protection”, “seeds” and “traits.”
“As a research-based agrochemical, seed and trait company, Bayer CropScience is committed to not only delivering innovative solutions, but also to fostering dialogue around key issues impacting our industry,” said Bill Buckner, Head of Region North America, Bayer CropScience. “We are pleased to host this type of forum for these industry experts in the U.S. -- building upon the success of similar forums held in Europe.”
To follow the conference, click here.
About Bayer CropScience
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, nutrition and high-tech materials. Bayer CropScience AG, a subsidiary of Bayer AG with annual sales of about EUR 6.4 billion (2008), is one of the world’s leading innovative crop science companies in the areas of crop protection, non-agricultural pest control, seeds and plant biotechnology. The company offers an outstanding range of products and extensive service backup for modern, sustainable agriculture and for non-agricultural applications. Bayer Crop¬Science has a global workforce of about 18,000 and is represented in more than 120 countries.
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For further information, contact:
Derrick Rozdeba
Manager, Integrated Communications
Bayer CropScience
Phone: (403) 723-7432
derrick.rozdeba@bayercropscience.com