Bayer eyes bigger role in China's agri-tech innovation, products

By OUYANG SHIJIA | CHINA DAILY

As China's agricultural sector undergoes a sweeping transformation embracing smarter, more digital and sustainable development, Bayer Crop Science is planting deeper roots in one of the world's most promising agri-tech markets.

"As a foreign company deeply rooted in China, Bayer Crop Science is dedicated to creating value for farmers, customers and our partners in China. We hope to continue working closely with the Chinese government to make more contributions to China's agricultural development with our products and technologies," said Malu Nachreiner, head of the Region Asia for the Crop Science Division of Bayer.

With an over 60-year presence in the Chinese market, Bayer Crop Science — one of the three divisions of the Germany-based life sciences enterprise Bayer — focuses on major crops such as rice, corn, wheat, fruits and vegetables. Currently, China is the second largest market for Bayer Crop Science in Asia, and Asia contributes around 10 percent to Bayer's global crop science business.

Nachreiner said the long-term growth prospects of the Chinese economy are promising, and Bayer Crop Science maintains a positive outlook on it.

As China enjoys a large agricultural market and abundant agricultural resources, she said the country's steady economic growth suggests the agricultural sector holds great potential for development, thus providing foreign agricultural companies like Bayer Crop Science with a broader scope for growth in the China market.

Noting the recent rise of Deep-Seek and China's fast-developing artificial intelligence, Nachreiner said China is becoming a global leader in AI and digitization, establishing itself as a key player in the realm of innovation.

Her views were echoed by Ben Simpfendorfer, a partner at consultancy Oliver Wyman, who said China is making strategic moves to secure long-term sustainable growth by doubling down on innovation, with a sharpened focus on emerging fields such as AI.

According to the Government Work Report, China will strive to develop new quality productive forces in light of local conditions. Under the AI Plus initiative, the country will also work to effectively combine digital technologies with China's manufacturing and market strengths.

Nachreiner said: "We have witnessed how various industries in China are actively occupying the space of research and development by introducing innovations across different segments.

"This dynamic environment is something that greatly attracts us. Bayer is an innovation-driven company and a global leader in biotechnology, and we firmly believe we can introduce the innovation and products to China that will ultimately benefit Chinese farmers and agriculture in China."

Bayer has launched its Drone Plus program in China, a digital tool designed to help farmers make better decisions regarding drone applications. The initiative involves not only farmers, but also Bayer partners, providing Bayer an opportunity to engage more closely with farmers and assist them in their operations.

In 2024, the first year of the Bayer Crop Science Lingfeng program in China, Bayer Crop Science partnered with 50 retailers to establish a network of centers dedicated to serving smaller farmers in China.

Nachreiner added that over the next few years, Bayer will actively engage with partners in various sectors to explore new opportunities and expand its offerings to farmers.

"Besides, Bayer aims to collaborate with local R&D companies, as we recognize that China is not only a manufacturing hub, but also has significant potential in R&D," she said.

In early 2025, Bayer launched a new supply center with an investment of 40 million euros ($46 million) in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, in a bid to enhance production capacity and meet demand for advanced crop protection products targeting both China and the Asia-Pacific market.

For Bayer's corn seed joint venture in China, China Seed International, Bayer is investing around 12 percent of its annual turnover in R&D, with a cumulative investment of approximately 100 million euros as of 2023.

"We hope to continue growing this business by partnering with local farmers to expand our reach and impact. We are committed to continuing our investments as we look forward to the opportunities that will arise as the market further opens up, particularly in the seed biotech space," she said.