Bayer bullish about future of China's agricultural sector

Bayer Crop Science, one of the three divisions of Germany-based life sciences enterprise Bayer, is bullish about the future of China's agricultural sector, citing the country's economic resilience, technological advances and commitment to sustainable farming practices as key growth drivers.

"I am very optimistic about China's future economic prospects as well as the potential of the huge Chinese market," said Natasha Santos, vice-president and head of sustainability and strategic engagement at Bayer Crop Science, who believes that China is a critical market that offers substantial opportunities for investment, innovation and collaboration.

"China is a crucial and strategic market for Bayer and remains an attractive destination," Santos said in a recent exclusive interview with China Daily. "Our commitment to China is not just as a market player, but as a partner in driving sustainable agricultural practices, digitalization and innovation."

Santos highlighted China's push toward sustainability in agriculture as one of the most exciting areas for Bayer's business. As China continues to prioritize the green development of agriculture, she said it presents a tremendous opportunity for Bayer Crop Science to scale up its work in regenerative agriculture, biologicals and sustainable crop protection solutions.

"We continue to look at opportunities for investment and collaboration," Santos said. "We think the economic resilience and the plans that we've seen from the government particularly on low carbon economy and rural development show a lot of promise for the future of agriculture here."

The growing demand for efficient, environmentally friendly farming practices is reflected in China's agricultural development, which increasingly focuses on reducing chemical pesticide use, conserving water resources and enhancing biodiversity. This aligns with Bayer's goals to provide advanced solutions that can help local farmers achieve higher productivity while safeguarding the environment.

A key element of Bayer's strategy in China is its focus on collaborating with local stakeholders to better support smallholder farmers, a vital segment of China's agricultural community. Despite the ongoing trend toward large-scale farming, SHFs continue to play a crucial role in feeding the population.

Bayer will try to provide financial support and other assistance to farmers in collaboration with partners. Bayer said such efforts are directly tied to improving the income and livelihoods of farmers, especially in the long term.

China's leadership in digitalization is another area where Bayer sees great growth potential. The company has been integrating digital tools into its operations to provide better services to farmers and improve the efficiency of agricultural practices, such as the one-stop drone services platform Drone Plus.

"Digitalization is a really promising area that we are looking into," Santos said, "With digital tools, we are helping farmers increase their productivity and achieve better outcomes."

As part of its commitment to China's agricultural growth, Bayer is investing heavily in innovation as well as research and investment.

When it comes to China's intensified efforts to foster new quality productive forces, Santos said: "We see this is an opportunity for us to grow and develop here."

According to her, these initiatives, particularly those aimed at technological innovation and industrial upgrading, align perfectly with Bayer's strategic vision. As an innovation-driven company, Bayer is well-positioned to benefit from these reforms by expanding its investments in the supply chain, advanced agricultural technologies, R&D and digital solutions.

Bayer is building a new supply center in Zhejiang province, with an investment of 40 million euros ($41.58 million), to enhance capacity and meet the demand for advanced crop protection products in China and the Asia-Pacific market. Additionally, Bayer upgraded its innovation hub in Jiangsu province last year, which is equipped with modern facilities such as high-end greenhouses, to increase its research efforts in China and achieve innovation-driven and digital expansion.

"The Chinese market gives us a big opportunity to grow with smallholder farmers while improving efficiency. Bayer is excited to contribute to this transformation by providing farmers with the tools, knowledge and solutions they need to succeed," said Santos.