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Bayer has #1 R&D platform

It’s been a little over a year since Bayer and Monsanto became one company.  Bob Reiter, Head of  Research & Development with Bayer said the teams are starting to know each other and work together. 

“It’s been exciting to see the excitement and the willingness; the question I get asked by employees when I go around and meet with them is how can I connect more with my colleagues in the new company.”

Reiter said the Bayer has the number one R & D platform in crop science.  He told Brownfield growers can expect to see continuous improvements as well as transformative breakthroughs.  He said every year farmers buy seed and each year that seed has greater and greater yield potential.

“Every once in a while, farmers see a new technology that foundationally changes the way they farm,” said Reiter.

The introduction of herbicides is an example of a transformative breakthrough.  The introduction of biotechnology which allowed farmers to stop using some “really tough chemistries” is another.   Looking down the road, Reiter believes digital will transform agriculture. 

It’s been 25 years since a new mode of action has been released.  Reiter tells Brownfield there are currently multiple modes of action in early stages in the Bayer product pipeline.  He said it might take a decade to get them to the farmer, but with diligence, those products will make it to the market.

RNAi – RNA interference – a natural biological process that most organisms use to control how to turn genes on and off or up or down. Reiter said it is a fundamental process that can be used to control insects by getting the plant to create a unique RNA molecule. When the corn rootworm pest feeds on that root it ingests the RNA which interferes with how a certain protein essential to the rootworms survival is being made.  The corn rootworm dies.

Short stature corn could be transformational.  Because it’s shorter, it allows for reduction in lodging and green snap and in-season access to the grower they didn’t have before with their ground equipment.  Having extra access later in the season could make a difference for productivity and sustainability as well.

Short stature corn will be available in the United States in the early 2020’s.

Conversation with Bob Reiter:

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