Bayer CropScience AG : Reducing food losses in fresh produce, food chain

At Bayer CropScience's Horticulture Symposium held today in Bonn, Germany, around 230 representatives of the international horticulture value chain and industry experts met to discuss key challenges. "Bayer CropScience has an important role to play in reducing food loss at the beginning of the value chain", said Hartmut van Lengerich, Head of Crop Strategy and Portfolio Management for Cereals, Rice and Fungicides at Bayer CropScience. "We have to find ways to reduce food loss during crop production itself and post-harvest stages of the food chain, mostly in developing countries. Besides, more research is needed in the field of food loss associated to the international trade, as many food products are produced, stored, transported, processed and consumed in different parts of the world."

"We strongly believe that our improved vegetable seeds, chemical and biological crop protection products as well as our broad range of services respond to the increasing demand for innovative and integrated solutions", Dr. Klaus Koetting, Head of Crop Strategy and Portfolio Management Fruits & Vegetables and Insecticides at Bayer CropScience pointed out. "We help growers to get the best from their fields - in accordance with sustainable agricultural principles and measures to prevent food loss." As a leader in integrated crop solutions, Bayer CropScience plans to further expand its position in the agricultural sector. The company's high-yield strategy for the fruit and vegetable business is based on innovative crop protection products, improved vegetable seed varieties, dedicated crop teams including horticulture specialists to develop customized services, fostering Food Chain Partnership activities and collaborations. "We are continuing to invest in our fruits & vegetables business to strengthen our leading market position", Koetting added.

The one-day event themed "Less Waste.More Produce." aimed at stimulating discussions on the production of high-quality horticulture crops with a focus on pre- and post harvest crop protection treatments. Speakers represented companies, research bodies and organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Nielsen Perishables Group, Chicago/USA, the British Cranfield University, the Agricultural Research Institute of Chile (INIA) and IRTA, a research institute owned by the Government of Catalonia adscribed to the Department of Agriculture of Spain.

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Find more information at www.bayercropscience.com.