Bayer CropScience and the Grains Research & Development Corp. Join Forces to Explore Weed Control Solutions
2 June 2015 In an effort to discover new weed management solutions, Bayer CropScience and the Grains Research & Development Corp. (GRDC) have partnered to create the Herbicide Innovation Partnership. The goal is to develop new technologies to manage resistant weeds and support the sustainability of modern crop production systems.
“Increasing weed resistance to major herbicide classes is endangering broadacre crop production on a global level”, said Axel Trautwein, Head of Small Molecules Research at Bayer CropScience. “New weed control solutions are a priority for our research. The challenges to solve those problems are too large for one company, university or even country. We need a network of partners with complementary specialisations. This partnership with GRDC and Australian universities is an excellent example of such a global network that will deliver real benefits to Australian agriculture and beyond.”
The Australian-based GRDC will support the extension of research capacities at the Bayer CropScience global center of excellence for weed control research in Frankfurt, Germany. About 40 additional researchers – a significant number of them to be recruited in Australia – will boost the abilities in Frankfurt to identify and explore advanced technologies.
“In Australia alone, it is estimated farmers lose more than A$3 billion per year due to resistant and poorly controlled weeds. We see this as an important opportunity to tackle this challenge and put Australian farms at the forefront of this exciting partnership. We want to add as many tools to the integrated weed management toolbox as possible”, said Richard Clark, Chairman at GRDC. “This partnership reaffirms GRDC’s commitment to improving grower profit as its highest priority. It’s important because a healthy, profitable grains industry is not just in the best interests of our growers; it’s in the best interest of all Australians.”
Read more about the agreement here.
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