ANAHEIM, Calif., Feb. 21, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — New technology and innovation are the lifeblood of many industries, and agriculture is no different. Technologies like sensors and aerial imaging let growers diagnose disease outbreaks before they’re visible to the naked eye. Artificial intelligence lets growers who encounter an unknown weed go from in-field photo, to identification, to management plan in a matter of minutes. Soon, predictive analytics will be so ingrained in how farmers grow crops that companies will be able to offer something unheard-of since humans started growing food: more predictable outcomes. And innovation isn’t just happening above ground and in the sky; just as much is happening underground as innovators use the soil’s own microbiome to give plants a boost from day 1. These technological innovations and more are transforming agriculture to help farmers and their businesses. These advancements and important discussions will be a focus of Bayer’s 2018 AgVocacy Forum.

“When we started these forums 13 years ago, we could not have imagined the technology growers can access today. And we are only seeing the beginning of this transformative innovation,” said Adrian Percy, Head of Research & Development and Executive Committee Member for Crop Science, a division of Bayer.

“To maintain this momentum, we must reach beyond our own doors and tap into the range of new technologies that not just agriculture but also other industries, such as engineering and IT, are developing. These new solutions will help growers improve their business as they sustainably meet the food demands of a growing population at a time when our natural resources are more precious than ever.” 

While new technologies in agriculture enable growers to improve their business as they sustainably produce more with less, consumers don’t always understand the benefit and have expressed concern about its long-term impact.

A recent survey* Bayer conducted found 95 percent of American consumers believe ag innovation will help farmers grow more food to meet the demands of the future. Yet, some are not sold on the tools that are mainly responsible for farming’s success: many of those surveyed believe treating crops with pesticides to control weeds, pests or diseases does more harm than good, and even more said they avoid purchasing genetically modified foods.

Even though some consumers are concerned about the impact of agricultural innovations, Bayer is optimistic about the future. “Among survey respondents who believe agriculture innovations don’t have a positive or negative impact or that they do more harm than good, nearly 60 percent say they would be more likely to support technologies if they were to learn how these innovations could help address the world’s most pressing food issues,” said Rob Schrick, Strategic Business Lead of Broad Acre Crops for Bayer. “That’s why this forum and other AgVocacy efforts are critical to helping bridge the divide and ensure growers have access to the tools required to grow a sustainable food supply.”

The 2018 Bayer AgVocacy Forum, Feb. 25-26, will span topics from new innovations to impactful collaborations. This year’s new “AgTech Talks” segment will showcase experts discussing what the industry can do to embrace innovation and support sustainable agriculture. Collaborations will be featured, like the joint venture Bayer announced last year with Ginkgo Bioworks. This collaboration has the potential to revolutionize soil health, enabling farmers to use inputs like nitrogen more effectively and sustainably. These are just a few highlights of a packed two-day agenda, with speakers representing many aspects of the ag and food sectors.

The Forum will welcome back moderator Frank Sesno, director of the School of Media and Public Affairs at George Washington University and former CNN correspondent, anchor and Washington, D.C. bureau chief. Frank will lead the discussion among some of agriculture’s most exciting and innovative leaders today. Farm economist and agricultural economics professor Jayson Lusk will deliver the keynote address on the current state of the farm economy and implications of the 2018 Farm Bill. Additionally, leaders from the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research and the Food & Agriculture Organization of the U.S. will discuss how the ag industry can work together with their groups toward a common goal of sustainably feeding our growing population.

Other esteemed guest speakers include:

• Greg Crutsinger, Drone Ecologist, Scholar Farms
• Cherryh Cansler, Editor, Fast Casual
• Dr. Tim Anglea, Global R&D Fellow, Citrus Science and Technology, The Coca-Cola Company
• Moira Mcdonald, Program Officer, Walton Family Foundation

For a full list of speakers, visit https://www.cropscience.bayer.us/news/events/2018-agvocacy-forum.

Join the conversation by following @bayer4cropsus on Twitter and Instagram, using #AgVocate and following our social live stream. Panels and discussions will also be broadcast live from Anaheim in the AgVocate Facebook group. For more information on the event, visit the 2018 Bayer AgVocacy Forum section of the Crop Science website.

Bayer is committed to bringing new technology and solutions for agricultural and non-agricultural uses. For questions concerning the availability and use of products, contact a local Bayer representative, or visit Crop Science, a division of Bayer, online at cropscience.bayer.us.

Visit the Bayer Connect – Social Hub for social media, recent news, blog posts, videos and more from Crop Science, a division of Bayer.

*U.S. results from Ebiquity global survey, July 2017.

About Bayer
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the Life Science fields of health care and agriculture. Its products and services are designed to benefit people and improve their quality of life. At the same time, the Group aims to create value through innovation, growth and high earning power. Bayer is committed to the principles of sustainable development and to its social and ethical responsibilities as a corporate citizen. In fiscal 2016, the Group employed around 99,600 people and had sales of EUR 34.9 billion. Capital expenditures amounted to EUR 2.2 billion, R&D expenses to EUR 4.4 billion. For more information, go to www.bayer.com. 

Contact:
Bayer Media Hotline, 1-862-404-5118, or

Casey Allen
Crop Science, a division of Bayer
Tel: (919) 549-2607  
Email: casey.allen@bayer.com

Becca Hogan
Porter Novelli
Tel: (858) 752-0562
Email: rebecca.hogan@porternovelli.com

Find more information at www.cropscience.bayer.us.  

Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer’s public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

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SOURCE Bayer