technology and COVID-19
CSG Associates in Action Private sector partners share the latest technology advancements and contributions
The following has been submitted directly from private sector partners of The Council of State Governments. This content is shared directly and without any editorial contributions or changes by Capitol Ideas. The content and viewpoints are those of the authors alone.
Bayer | Innovation with Purpose Submitted by Dave Tierney, head of U.S. State and Local Government Affairs for Bayer
When you hear the name Bayer, the first thing you might think of is that little pill with the cross on it—Bayer® Aspirin. But it might surprise you to learn that Bayer is not just in the business of discovering new medicines. Did you know that we’re also a world-class agricultural enterprise? Bayer is a true life sciences company, driven by a powerful mission— Science for A Better Life—to create and deliver advances that tackle society’s most pressing issues. With over 20,000 employees in the United States and three business divisions (Pharmaceuticals, Consumer Health and Crop Science) we’re a huge innovation engine, proud to carry out our mission every day in the hopes of achieving a bold vision: Health for all; Hunger for none.
ISSUE 2 2020 | CAPITOL IDEAS
I am excited and humbled by this vision. For me, it encapsulates our mandate to not simply innovate, but to innovate with purpose. In agriculture, our purpose is three-fold:
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Serving farmers. Ask a thousand farmers what they need, and you’ll get a thousand different answers—all starting with “HELP!” Help fighting pests, managing risk, reducing costs, increasing yields, improving efficiencies… the list goes on. Bayer serves farmers by bringing a broad suite of tools to the farmgate—crop protection products, seeds, traits, advanced data analytics and digital tools—offering tailored solutions to meet their unique needs. To us, there’s nothing more satisfying than helping solve farmers’ toughest challenges. From the discovery of the world’s newest broad-spectrum herbicide molecule to the invention of next-generation trait solutions like ThryvOn™ for cotton, Bayer’s innovations deliver groundbreaking benefits to farmers.
Improving sustainability. At Bayer, we believe every investment in innovation should also be an investment in sustainability. Our newest innovations not only help farmers tackle agronomic challenges, but also help them preserve soil health, protect wildlife habitat, foster biodiversity and more. Take for example our Climate FieldView™ digital agriculture platform, which supports farmers in making data-driven crop management decisions that lead to using more precise amounts of inputs only where they’re needed. This is truly innovation with a purpose, benefiting farms, fields and our planet. Producing more with less. By 2050, the global population is expected to increase by 30% and food demand by 70%. Farmers must meet this critical challenge using shrinking amounts of land, water and other resources—all while contending with floods, droughts and other ravages of our changing climate. Bayer scientists are making great strides in developing new approaches that both boost crop yields AND preserve resources. An exciting example of this is our short-stature corn—a hybrid developed to be much shorter than more common varieties. With sturdy stalks, more upright leaves and smaller tassels, these plants produce a healthy, high-yielding crop that is less susceptible to wind and other environmental pressures, promising to both increase yields and reduce crop losses.
Innovating for Our Future Bayer employees proudly contribute to advancements in healthcare and agriculture that promise to benefit the world for generations to come, and we welcome the chance to share our work with anyone who will listen. Thanks to Capitol Ideas for providing the opportunity to share it with you.
