Bayer expands
ForwardFarming network to Latin America
Farms in Argentina and Brazil are first
ForwardFarms outside Europe
(Latin America
Business). Bayer has announced the expansion of the Bayer ForwardFarming
network to Latin America. Agrícola Testa, in Argentina, and Fazenda Nossa
Senhora Aparecida, in Brazil, are the first Bayer ForwardFarms outside Europe.
Bayer ForwardFarming is a knowledge platform for farmers, focused on customized
agronomic solutions, proactive stewardship and partnerships.
The farm in
Argentina, Agrícola Testa, lies near Pergamino (Buenos Aires) and has been
managed by the Testa family for three generations. Primarily growing soybeans,
corn and wheat on the 1,130-hectare farm, the Testa brothers regard agriculture
as their reason for living. They also offer contractual services to other
farmers in the region, sharing their land and agricultural practices with
fellow farmers.
"Farming
is the only thing we know quite well; it is our passion. Joining the
ForwardFarming network is an incredible opportunity to bring even more
innovation to our business and also to build a better future for future
generations, through sustainable agriculture," said Marcelo Testa.
The farm in
Brazil, Fazenda Nossa Senhora Aparecida, covers near 2,700 hectares north of
Brasilia. The Fiorese family founded the farm in 1995 and has a long history of
farming soybeans, winter corn, field beans, wheat and sorghum in the Brazilian
Cerrados. The family believes that the key to success in farming is to
implement new technologies and connect social and environmental aspects to show
that sustainability is possible in agriculture.
"Thinking
about the future of agriculture and the future of my own family has inspired me
to join Bayer ForwardFarming," said farmer Oli Antônio Fiorese. "I
truly believe that working in partnership with Bayer and using new technologies
will give us the opportunity to grow our businesses in a sustainable way and
being able to share our knowledge with other farmers." The ForwardFarming
presence in Latin America is also set to expand to Chile, where an official launch
is planned for early 2018.
Each region of
the world faces unique challenges addressing and implementing sustainable
agricultural practices. There is therefore a critical need for ForwardFarms
that represent diverse regions, climates and conditions. Beside this diversity,
Latin America is responsible for a significant amount of the world's
agricultural production and the use of innovation and sustainable practices on
farming in the region is therefore necessary to increase productivity and supply
food for the global demand.
"We are
really proud to extend now our ForwardFarm network to Latin America. Argentina
and Brazil are very important agricultural markets, both absolutely essential
in producing food and feed for a growing world demand, but also in driving
agricultural innovation," said Bernd Naaf, head of Business Affairs and
Communications at Bayer’s Crop Science Division. "This is a great
opportunity to partner with local independent farmers and demonstrate that
high-quality seeds, innovative crop protection products and digital
technologies can be effective not just many years in the future but right now,
helping farmers produce enough safe food."
"The
addition of these farms in Latin America will encourage progressive, and
increasingly globalized, dialog with farmers and other players across the value
chain, as well as with society, about all aspects of sustainable agriculture in
practice," said Dr. Klaus Kirsch, global manager for Bayer ForwardFarming.
"We are excited about the expansion of the ForwardFarming network across
continents."
Latin America
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