Bayer and Rothamsted Research have entered into a strategic framework agreement, which they say will support the development of more sustainable means of tackling pests, pathogens and weeds.

The German chemical company and Hertfordshire research centre have collaborated in the past. They promise that their co-ordinated activities in the lab and field will generate “the data, know-how, tools and technologies that help to support a transition to smarter crop protection.”

The partners will work together in a number of research areas: from real-time detection of pests in the environment to understanding the evolution of resistance; and from the identification of new modes of action of insecticides to novel approaches to controlling pests.

“The strategic alliance with Rothamsted will help us find further sustainable solutions for the challenges that we face in modern agriculture. Bundling the expertise, know-how and exchange of ideas will lead to further innovation in our company," said Dr. Adrian Percy, Global Head of Research and Development at Bayer Crop Science. “Crops are exposed to a wide range of both biotic and abiotic stresses, and we expect our enhanced collaboration with Rothamsted to help us develop a better understanding of how these factors can be more sustainably managed to reduce crop losses worldwide and manage resistance more effectively.”

“At the heart of our research lies the need to feed a growing world population in a more sustainable manner,” said Achim Dobermann, Director and Chief Executive of Rothamsted. “Although research institutions such as ours can contribute much in addressing that challenge, we need to partner with others, including industry, to achieve real breakthroughs and have bigger impacts. This alliance will provide us with a whole new opportunity to work together on complex challenges, towards making farming more precise, more productive ... and more sustainable.”

“We are absolutely convinced that Digital Farming will revolutionize agriculture,” added Tobias Menne, Head of Digital Farming at Bayer. “New technologies that  detect stress factors long before they become visible to the human eye can help farmers to make better informed decisions earlier and more precisely. Fertilizer and crop protection can be applied at the best possible time and at the optimal dosage, using no more or less than needed by the plant.”

Menne went on, "Innovative digital solutions, which combine data, agricultural knowledge and farming  experience, help farmers to increase their profitability and take further steps towards a more sustainable way of farming."