WESTERN PRODUCER — Sustainability and carbon neutrality are key commitments at Bayer CropScience, the company showed at a recent event.
Instead of ducking the concepts, which can trigger some farmers, Bayer CropScience’s Canadian president and chief executive officer, Al Driver, brought them up as he opened the day.
“For us, providing solutions on an ongoing basis to some of the more difficult, challenging issues (such as) climate change, we try to anticipate environmental impact, regulatory changes and the consumer — what’s the consumer going to want five and 10 years from today, and how do our solutions help provide that for farmers,” said Driver.
Bayer is a global giant, especially since swallowing Monsanto. Its products are omnipresent among Canadian farmers and its new products are keenly watched every year. Globally, the company spends $3 billion per year on research and development.
Climate change issues are often controversial among farmers, but the German company has set itself a bold target for carbon-neutrality. By 2030 it wants to be creating zero net emissions.
“We do that to try to work towards a better sustainable company and industry,” said Driver.
That pledge will affect every aspect of Bayer’s crops operations, about which Driver sounds optimistic.
“There’s a number of areas where we’re at our infancy in … trying to get into that sustainability measuring and moving forward,” said Driver.
It’s been a challenging time for Bayer’s agriculture wing, absorbing such a major player as Monsanto.
“It’s been a pile of work. We’re not perfect yet. We’ve been working at this for three years and we continue to work at it,” said Driver.
That has included struggling with issuing “BayerValue cheques,” which were delayed last year.
“Last year we struggled with our systems and data,” said Driver.
This year, however, western cheques have been issued and the eastern ones should be out by Christmas.
Once the kinks are worked out, Bayer thinks the company will be closer to offering bumper-to-bumper products and service for crops.
“We want to be the go-to company, the trusted ambassador, the one who gives advice and provides solutions to Canadian farmers.”
