Bayer CropScience takes major step forward in tackling the global problem of herbicide-resistant weeds with the opening of Weed Resistance Competence Center (WRCC) in Frankfurt

Major step forward in tackling the global problem of herbicide-resistant weeds

Frankfurt / Main, 20-11-2014 — /EuropaWire/ — Herbicide-resistant weeds are a growing global problem. The official opening of Bayer CropScience’s Weed Resistance Competence Center (WRCC) in Frankfurt on 19 November is a major step forward in tackling weed resistance, as it will develop new weed control strategies, and share knowledge within the global community of farmers, agronomists and scientists.

Understanding weed resistance and improving weed control solutions
As a scientific institution, the WRCC will act as Bayer CropScience’s global reference center for weed resistance management. The core activities of its 12 full-time personnel cover three areas: understanding weed resistance mechanisms and their evolution in the field; developing and testing new weed control strategies; and sharing Bayer CropScience’s knowledge and weed control solutions with the entire value chain. “Bayer clearly recognizes the threat weed resistance poses to our business and to agriculture in general,” says Harry Strek, Head of WRCC. To date, 238 weeds have developed resistance to common herbicides, diminishing yields by up to 70 percent. “The WRCC will help us learn from the past and develop solutions that secure harvests in the long run,” he continues. To this end, Bayer is actively promoting partnerships with scientists and other stakeholders worldwide.

Project work in Europe, the US and Australia
Bayer weed scientists are focusing on resistance projects in 44 countries across Europe, North America and Asia Pacific. In the U.S. they are investigating population genetics and resistance mechanisms in Palmer Amaranth, a particularly difficult-to-control type of weed, and in Australia metabolic resistance in Lolium (ryegrass). Looking ahead, WRCC head Harry Strek is planning to further broaden cooperation and dialog with external partners.

Integrated crop solutions
The WRCC is part of a holistic approach to weed management and supports Bayer CropScience’s strategy of developing integrated crop solutions for sustainable agriculture. “Our continued investment in research and development in this discipline will pay off by delivering efficient and long-term solutions for weed control,” Harry Strek points out. “We not only recommend the optimal use of certain herbicides, but we also strongly support the adoption of integrated weed management practices that include the best crop rotations, soil tillage practices and crop planting densities.”

For a virtual tour of the WRCC simply visit our Bigger Picture at http://wrcc.thebiggerpicture.bayer.com/

About Bayer CropScience
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, agriculture and high-tech materials. Bayer CropScience, the subgroup of Bayer AG responsible for the agricultural business, has annual sales of EUR 8,819 million (2013) and is one of the world’s leading innovative crop science companies in the areas of seeds, crop protection and non-agricultural pest control. The company offers an outstanding range of products including high value seeds, innovative crop protection solutions based on chemical and biological modes of action as well as an extensive service backup for modern, sustainable agriculture. In the area of non-agricultural applications, Bayer CropScience has a broad portfolio of products and services to control pests from home and garden to forestry applications. The company has a global workforce of 22,400 and is represented in more than 120 countries. This and further news is available at: www.press.bayercropscience.com.

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Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer’s public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

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Biological technician Frederic Bach conducts greenhouse-based diagnostics tests at Bayer CropScience’s Weed Resistance Competence Center in Frankfurt, Germany.