Experts promote regenerative agriculture at Bayer event
At the Bayer On-farm event in Huldenberg, experts advocated for regenerative agriculture as a key to maintaining Europe’s global competitiveness.
Frank Terhorst, Bayer’s Sustainability Manager, emphasised that sustainable farming practices can increase yields while reducing environmental impact. Bayer, known for chemical products like Roundup, has shifted its focus toward a holistic, ecosystem-based approach to farming, integrating biological crop protection and precision farming.
Regenerative agriculture improves soil health and farm resilience
During the event, attendees toured Bayer’s ForwardFarm in Huldenberg, where regenerative practices are tested. One example showed that potato plants treated with the biological product Serenade developed deeper roots and required fewer fungicides compared to those treated with conventional methods. Terhorst highlighted that regenerative agriculture improves soil health and farm resilience, even in challenging weather conditions.
Political hurdles
However, Terhorst pointed to political hurdles in the EU, where restrictive regulations and lengthy approval processes hinder the adoption of innovative farming tools. He called for greater support for new breeding techniques and emphasised the strategic importance of agriculture for Europe’s food security.
Panelists, including PepsiCo’s Anneleen Touquet, also stressed that sustainability is a shared responsibility across the supply chain. Meanwhile, geopolitics professor Jonathan Holslag urged consumers to pay more for sustainably produced food to support innovation and long-term agricultural prosperity.
Source: Flemish newssite Vilt.be
