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Bayer’s CropKey bringing AI to crop protection

The president of Bayer Crop Science North America says artificial intelligence is opening new doors in crop protection.

Brian Naber says the company’s CropKey utilizes data science to design precise new pest solutions.

“What we’re moving to is from screening to designing.”  He says, “So, literally through AI you can now design crop protection products that are specific only to the targeted pest and to nothing else.”

Naber tells Brownfield it’s speeding up product research.

“Really move to predictive modeling on what the infield performance of those genetics could be, what that has done is provided a significant acceleration of the genetic advancement that we’ll be able to make.”

He says the CropKey approach has developed Icafolin, which would be the first new post-emergent herbicide mode of action introduced in three decades.  It’s expected to launch first in Brazil in 2028.

Naber says CropKey has already found more than 30 potential new molecular targets and has validated more than 10 targets as new modes of action in early research.

CropKey designed fungicides and insecticides are also in development.

Bayer showcased CropKey at its 2024 Innovation Update in Chicago earlier this year.