Page 17 - AWA Vol.42-No7 issue

CROP PROTECTION

ing 750 million euros sales potential new modes of action and the design beginning to deliver tangible results.
in the mid-2030s. Collectively, the 10 of targeted molecules assessing effi- Bayer has made significant progress
blockbusters will address pressing cacy, safety, and sustainability at the on cost reductions, amounting to al-
farmer challenges and are poised very start of the R&D process. This most 400 million euros to date, con-
to contribute significantly to Bayer's has helped create a robust pipeline tributing to its EBITDA before special
growth over the coming decade. with more than 15 novel modes of ac- items improvement goal of 1 billion
tion currently in the pipeline research
Bayer advances industry-leading euros and supporting its ambition to
innovation pipeline phase, driven by CropKey. One ex- achieve an EBITDA margin before
ample is a new broad-spectrum fun- special items in the mid-20s percent-
Alongside these launches, Bayer gicide for soy with blockbuster po-
advances key projects across its Crop tential. It is developed using CropKey age range by the end of the decade.
Actions included divesting five ac-
Science R&D pipeline and brings in- and now advanced to phase II in the
novation to farmers continuously, pipeline. tive ingredients and discontinuing
more than 100 crop protection formu-
introducing 400 to 500 new hybrids
“Whether in seeds, traits or crop
and varieties annually. This output is protection innovation, AI is becoming lations. In addition, cash-flow mea-
sures are progressing, with invento-
based on Bayer’s AI-enabled preci-
sion breeding platform, which dou- a core enabler of Bayer’s innovation ry reductions of already 500 million
model, helping us advance discov-
euros, supporting Bayer’s ambition
bles the yield improvement rate of
every new generation (genetic gain) ery, improve development efficiency to reach a free operating cash flow of
more than 3 billion euros by 2029.
and translate biological insights into
compared to historical breeding, and
accelerates time to market threefold. differentiated products for growers The Five-Year Framework’s goal of
faster,” said Mike Graham, Head of
The company’s researchers have Crop Science R&D. “Our advantage is above-market growth and deliver-
further enhanced this breeding ap- that our teams work from the same bi- ing more than 3.5 billion euros of in-
proach through genome editing, ological insights, enabling us to com- cremental sales at constant currency
which they use at scale by integrating bine expertise across disciplines and through the end of the decade is sup-
the technology early in breeding pro- accelerate innovation.” ported by Bayer’s ongoing innovation
cesses. One example is genome-ed- delivery as well as strategic busi-
ited soy: Higher-yielding soybean Bayer is also using its unique R&D ness decisions. Key growth drivers
varieties can become more suscepti- capabilities to expand into adjacent include excellent-yielding hybrids
ble to leaning or falling over as plant growth areas. With its emergent, but launched every year, accelerated
height increases. Through genome leading portfolio of intermediate bio- technology adoption, market share
editing, Bayer is developing soy with fuel crops, including camelina, win- gains and geographic expansion of
improved plant architecture to help ter oilseed rape and CoverCress™, proven technologies into Asian and
address this challenge. Innovations the company contributes to meet- EMEA markets. In the crop protec-
like genome-edited standable soy ing growing demand for biodiesel, tion space, Bayer is pursuing growth
and the advanced breeding pipeline renewable diesel and sustainable through locally focused go-to-market
come together to create new product aviation fuel markets, estimated to initiatives, redeploying commercial
concepts and value for growers that increase almost threefold to 40 bil- resources to growth products and
will come to the market early in the lion gallons by 2040. Bayer is also ad- regions, and lifecycle management
next decade. vancing its plans to sell hybrid wheat measures, like the introduction of
in Europe and North America by the Convintro™ in the United States, Bra-
As another example of its connect- early 2030s. This unlocks a large- zil and Canada.
ed R&D engine, Bayer is advancing ly untapped opportunity by bring-
new biotech traits in concert with its ing the benefits of hybridization to a Bayer’s progress is supported by
novel crop protection innovation. In crop grown on more than 500 million its Dynamic Shared Ownership op-
early-stage development, the com- acres worldwide. With hybrid wheat, erating model, which enables faster
pany is working on its sixth-gener- camelina, winter oilseed rape and decisions and clearer accountability,
ation herbicide tolerance, which is CoverCress™, Bayer is entering four strengthening the company’s ability
expected to also include tolerance new crops at the same time. to lead in scaling AI-enabled oppor-
against its blockbuster herbicide Ica- tunities across the business. “Our in-
folin. It is the first time the company Bayer on track executing its Five- novation strategy and our Five-Year
simultaneously develops a new her- Year Framework Framework are built on execution,”
bicide molecule and plant trait for Bayer’s innovation approach is en- said Rodrigo Santos. “We are making
tolerance, contributing to a holistic abled by execution of its Five-Year progress against the commitments
weed-control system that is unique in Framework strategy, which the Crop we have made, and are set to lead
the industry. Science Division announced in 2025 the industry and bring value to our
to drive growth, resilience and prof- customers and shareholders by de-
Bayer’s AI-powered R&D-CropKey livering differentiating solutions that
platform is a key differentiator in Crop itability. The company continues to growers around the world need.”
execute the strategy, and efforts are
Protection, enabling the discovery of
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Vol. 42 No. 7 15