Bayer is advancing a new generation of crop science technologies as it moves ahead with the commercialisation of several new seed, crop protection and digital agriculture products.
The company is targeting 10 major product launches over the next decade. Among the technologies already entering commercialisation are the Preceon Smart Corn System and Plenexos insecticide, while new soybean traits including Vyconic and Intacta 5+ are planned for key agricultural markets.
Smart Corn System Combines Genetics and Digital Technology
The Preceon Smart Corn System is a digitally enabled short-stature corn system designed to improve crop management and reduce agronomic risks.
The shorter plants are designed to provide greater protection against weather extremes, allow higher planting densities and improve access for conventional farm equipment during the growing season. The system also features a larger root structure intended to support yield potential.
Bayer is combining the system with its FieldView digital platform, providing farmers and agronomic advisers with tools to monitor and manage crop performance.
The technology is already being commercialised in Mexico, Italy, Spain and the United States, with commercialisation in Argentina beginning this year.
New Insecticide Targets Sucking Pests
Bayer’s Plenexos insecticide is being introduced as a broad-spectrum treatment for sucking pests affecting crops including soybeans, cotton, fruits and vegetables.
The company says the product can achieve pest control with substantially lower quantities of active ingredient compared with existing products, potentially reducing exposure to non-target organisms such as pollinators and beneficial insects.
Plenexos is currently being introduced in Colombia, with additional launches planned for Mexico, Brazil and the United States.
New Soybean Traits Expand Weed-Control Options
Bayer is also advancing new soybean technologies designed to give growers greater flexibility in managing herbicide-resistant weeds.
Vyconic is being developed as a five-way herbicide-tolerant soybean trait stack. The technology is being combined with Bayer’s breeding programme to introduce the traits into high-performing soybean varieties.
The company says early varieties incorporating Vyconic have demonstrated yield improvements of more than two bushels per acre.
Intacta 5+ is being developed for the Brazilian market and combines five herbicide tolerances with new insect-protection traits designed for local growing conditions.
AI and Genome Editing Drive Crop Development
Bayer is using AI-enabled precision breeding to accelerate the development of new crop varieties. The company says its breeding platform is designed to increase the rate of genetic improvement while reducing the time required to bring new varieties to market.
Genome editing is also being incorporated into the breeding process. One area of development is soybean plant architecture, where Bayer is working on varieties designed to improve standability as plants become taller and achieve higher yields.
In crop protection, Bayer’s AI-powered CropKey platform is being used to identify potential new modes of action and design targeted molecules. The company says more than 15 novel modes of action are currently in its research pipeline.
One new broad-spectrum soybean fungicide developed using the platform has advanced to Phase II development.
Developing Integrated Crop Solutions
Bayer is also working to combine seed traits and crop-protection technologies into integrated crop-management systems.
One example is the parallel development of new herbicide molecules and crop traits that provide tolerance to those products. Bayer’s next-generation herbicide tolerance programme is being developed alongside its Icafolin herbicide, with the aim of creating a coordinated weed-control system.