Bayer CropScience to further invest in innovative nematode control tools to help farmers combat destructive plant parasites

Broad-spectrum nematicide portfolio based on chemicals and biologicals / New products and formulations to combat nematode infestations

Monheim, Germany, 16-5-2014 — /EuropaWire/ — Bayer CropScience plans to further invest in innovative nematode control tools to help farmers combat these destructive plant parasites and secure the food supply. “Nematodes have a huge economic impact, causing an estimated US$ 100 billion in crop damage every year. There is therefore a growing need for effective nematode control,” Mathias Kremer, Head of Strategy at Bayer CropScience, pointed out. “As one of the leading innovative companies in our industry, we are committed to developing next-generation integrated pest management (IPM) tools which help farmers reduce nematode infestation and secure yields.”

At the 6th International Congress of Nematology in Cape Town, South Africa, May 4-9, Bayer CropScience was the lead sponsor and presented the company’s latest technologies to international experts in plant nematology research and education.

Integrated solutions are key to effective nematode control

Modern nematode control must provide good efficacy and improved safety. “Farmers need new, long-lasting nematicides with novel modes of action and favorable ecological and toxicological characteristics,” said Hartwig Dauck, Manager responsible for the Nematode Control Strategy at Bayer CropScience. “A combination of modern chemical and biological treatments will be the most successful approach to effective nematode control and will become the cornerstone of integrated pest management (IPM) strategies for many crops.” Bayer CropScience offers a broad product portfolio with good fit for integrated nematode control, including VOTiVO™ (Bacillus firmus), BioAct™ (Paecilomyces lilacinus Strain 251) and Velum™ / Verango™ (fluopyram).

“Integrated solutions for nematode control are also the local focus in Southern Africa. Many growers have experienced our new technology in numerous field trials – and the first products are now available in Zimbabwe and South Africa,” Klaus Eckstein, Country Head of Bayer CropScience Southern Africa, pointed out.

Velum™ / Verango™: a new ground-breaking nematicide from Bayer

Bayer CropScience recently launched its new nematicide based on the active ingredient fluopyram, marketed under the brand names Velum™ and Verango™. In field trials, these products have shown a significant increase in yield and quality in a broad sp ectrum of crops, e.g. fruit, vegetables and tobacco. Velum™ and Verango™ are the first nematicides acting via complex ll inhibition, thus selectively inhibiting the nematode’s generation of cellular energy. Compared to existing chemical solutions, they have a favorable safety and environmental profile and offer long-lasting control at very low application rates.

Another benefit for farmers is that they can be used under various growing conditions – in greenhouses and on the field – as well as with different application techniques. Depending on regulatory approval, Velum™ and Verango™ can be used for drip, soil drench and in-furrow application and for soil incorporation. Additional benefits are their efficacy against fungal diseases such as alternaria leaf spot, powdery mildew and sclerotinia rot, making Velum™ and Verango™ a ground-breaking IPM tool.

Biological nematode control with VOTiVO™ and BioAct™

The roots of corn, soy, cotton and vegetables are attractive sources of nutrients for pests like nematodes. The seed treatment product VOTiVO™, which contains the bacteria Bacillus firmus, is used in an increasing number of countries to reduce the impact of nematodes. It creates a living barrier of protection around the young root and limits the chance that the nematodes reach them and cause damage. Furthermore, plants thrive better over the entire growing season, are generally more resistant to stress factors such as heat or drought and give better yield.

BioAct™ is a high-quality solution for nematode control available as WP (wettable powder) and WG (water-dispersible granules) formulations. This Paecilomyces lilacinus-based biological nematicide controls a broad range of plant-parasitic nematodes in a large number of agricultural crops. The beneficial fungus in BioAct™ only targets plant-parasitic nematodes, especially the juvenile stages and eggs, without harming any other soil-dwelling organisms. BioAct™ is currently registered in more than ten countries worldwide.

Bayer CropScience is further improving BioAct™ and developing a DC liquid formulation for enhanced soil penetration, more convenient handling and improved shelf-life through enhanced temperature stability. Bayer CropScience plans to implement the new BioAct™ DC Liquid as an essential tool for its integrated crop solutions offering.

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.

Find more information at www.bayercropscience.com.

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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Protecting agricultural crops, e.g. wheat, from plant parasitic nematodes in one of the greatest challenges for farmers today.