Bayer bets on integration to accelerate agricultural innovation

Bayer is betting on the integration of genetic improvement, gene editing, biotechnology, crop protection, and digital tools to accelerate the development of agricultural technologies. The strategy connects these platforms to a single data and science system. According to Axel Trautwein, the company's regulatory science leader, this structure allows for shorter development cycles, increased genetic gain, and the creation of new approaches to managing pests, diseases, and weeds. This information was presented during the Bayer Innovation Showcase in Huxley, Iowa, United States.

The company places data and science at the heart of four research and development platforms: precision breeding, gene editing coupled with breeding, biotechnology, and molecule design. The framework utilizes data accumulated over decades, as well as models developed by the company.

In genetic improvement, Bayer claims to have replaced a linear process with a continuous genetic cycle. The model provides lineages and data for product development on an ongoing basis.

Trautwein presented the DKC 68-35 hybrid as a result of this system. The material combines genetics from Thailand, Mexico, Argentina, and the United States. The company attributes this composition to the breadth of its germplasm bank. The hybrid exhibits characteristics related to tolerance, grain quality, and root strength.

Gene editing

Gene editing occupies another front in the strategy. Bayer has integrated this technology into its breeding program. The company seeks to modify different plant characteristics, including processes associated with photosynthesis, resilience, and plant architecture. One of the objectives involves plants adapted to higher densities.

The company anticipates the first commercial class of gene-edited materials in the early 2030s. More than 50 targets have already undergone activation within the presented pipeline. The strategy seeks to complement the development of transgenic traits and expand the introduction of genetic variation in breeding programs.

In biotechnology, the company reported accumulating over 30 years of experience in plants. Its products reach more than 15 countries. Five new product launches are planned by 2029, and more than 16 technologies are in the pipeline for 2030 and beyond.

Crop protection

In crop protection, Bayer adopts a strategy based on the prior identification of the biological target. The process begins with a protein of interest present in the weed, pest, or pathogen. Researchers develop molecules capable of acting on this target.

The method differs from the approach based on synthesizing large volumes of molecules followed by biological activity tests. According to Trautwein, the new strategy expands the number of accessible targets for research. Each new target can pave the way for a new mode of action.

Resistance is one of the main points considered in development. A new mode of action can act on resistant organisms without prior exposure to the mechanism. The company also seeks to anticipate information related to safety and the possibility of registration. According to the presentation, this approach allows obtaining safety information up to five years earlier in the development process.

The formulation and application technology are integrated into the same system. The company considers these components necessary to deliver the active ingredient to the target and reduce dosages. The process connects discovery, molecular development, safety assessment, registration, formulation, and application.

A phase 2 fungicide candidate exemplifies the strategy. Bayer is developing the molecule for the management of Asian soybean rust in Brazil. The first trials took place in seven locations across the country.

According to the results presented, the candidate provided approximately a 17% increase in mass compared to the commercial standard under disease pressure. The data came from field conditions, according to Trautwein.

Digital tools

The digital strategy aims to transform information generated during product development into agronomic recommendations. The tools provide guidance on product placement and plant density. The same models used in development can support decisions in the field.

The platform is also compatible with agricultural machinery systems. The goal is to transfer agronomic recommendations and decisions to the equipment used in the field.

The company plans to connect every product it sells to a digital recommendation in the future. Trautwein stated that the company has not yet reached that stage, but pointed to this integration as a direction for development.

Bayer is also working on the simultaneous development of herbicide tolerance traits, molecules for weed control, and digital tools. This approach differs from the model in which a company develops tolerance for an already available herbicide.

In this system, the company seeks to combine genetics, herbicide, and management recommendations from the very beginning of development. The presentation mentions greater flexibility in application timing, the use of targeted applications, and a reduction in the amount of product needed to achieve control.

According to Trautwein, the integration of these technologies forms the basis of the company's research and development strategy for the next decade. The company intends to simultaneously advance in genetic improvement, characteristics for protection against insects and weeds, new modes of action in pesticides, and digital systems for managing products in the field.