Bayer invests $ 22 million in SP

In order to improve the service to more strategic market in the segment of crop protection for the company, Bayer CropScience made an investment of r $ 22 million in Brazil for the inauguration and expansion of an infrastructure geared towards research and innovation of pesticides.
The negative moment in the country's economy was not enough to halt the investment, because the company's vision, the demand for commodities should follow growing and in parallel to the advancement of pests in tropical crops.
Yesterday (4), the global CEO of Bayer, Liam Condon, inaugurated the monitoring Laboratories of resistance to Fungicides, herbicides and Insecticides (FHI) and Application Technology Centre, in Paulínia (SP). In addition, presented the concept of the Centre of Expertise in Tropical Agriculture (CEAT), a collaborative platform to establish public-private partnerships for research and innovation, which contribute to the development of integrated solutions.
Pulled by the movement of trade with countries like China, Condon believes the global demand for commodities has the potential to advance in the coming decades. "What you call a crisis, we call innovation," adds company President for Brazil and Latin America, Edward Whipple Road, on expectations for domestic crops in foreign markets. Asked about the impact of American currency in the processes, the CEO admits that there is a volatility, but that long-term investments they have an appetite for it. In 2014, the Bayer won R$ 5.46 billion in sales in the country, an increase of 24% over the previous year's performance.
Of total marketed globally by the company, Brazil accounted for 66%, hence the need to keep the bets in Brazilian production. In all, over the past four years, the contributions in the country totaled about $ 31 million.
A survey presented by the company estimates that the tropical climate areas should present high of 34% for pests, between 2011 and 2017, against 21% in temperate environment.
In this context, the laboratory of FHI and resistance monitoring will constantly monitor the developments of fungi, pests and weeds for the development of specific solutions for resistance management.
The Application Technology Centre will focus its activities in the development of solutions for the application of pesticides, suited to local realities.
"The location was set based on the favorable climate and the benefits that can be brought to Brazil, with regard to Latin America and, later, other countries", say executives of Bayer CropScience.
Among the main lines of action already initiated by CEAT are the challenges the management of resistance to disease, pest and weed control in crops of soybeans, corn, cotton, as well as the problems of Asian rust and greening in citrus, for example.