Bayer invests € 5 billion in alternatives for glyphosate

Bayer says it will continue offering Roundup, which contains glyphosate, but wants to offer farmers more options for weed control. The company also aims to reduce its impact on the environment by 30% in 2030.

Digital farming tools

The R&D investment will go towards improving the understanding of resistance mechanisms, discovering and developing new modes of actions, further developing tailored integrated weed management solutions and developing more precise recommendations through digital farming tools. In addition, partnerships with weed scientists around the world will be enhanced to help develop customised solutions for farmers at a local level.

Over 13,000 lawsuits against Bayer in US

These measures address questions and concerns Bayer has heard about its role in agriculture in the year following its acquisition of Monsanto. The number of lawsuits against Bayer regarding glyphosate in the United States alone has grown to over 13,000. Bayer has lost several lawsuits related to claims that Roundup causes cancer. Recently Bayer has also bee sued in Australia.

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We heard your questions and concerns about our role in agriculture. These concerns matter to us. Beginning today, we are raising the bar and setting off on a journey to elevate our efforts in transparency and sustainability: https://t.co/8SBJAH0rsD pic.twitter.com/ZuxlzkgM7I

— Bayer AG (@Bayer) 14 June 2019

The chemical giant is making preparations to have glyphosate re-approved in the European Union. Bayer says it wants to make the approval process more transparent by letting scientists, journalists and ngo’s work with them during these preparations.

More precise application

With its solutions, the company aims reduce the environmental impact by 30% by 2030. Bayer wants to achieve this by developing new technologies, scaling down crop protection volumes, and enabling more precise application. “This will help to restore and retain biodiversity, combat climate change, and make the most efficient use of natural resources,” says Bayer.