Bayer strengthens its leadership with the acquisition of Monsanto

On the occasion of the celebration of its 120th anniversary, Bayer has opened the doors of its Cellular Biology Research Center in San Nicolás (Almería). We have been able to know, in addition to the company’s business figures in 2018, how they contribute to meet the challenge of feeding the current population in an efficient and safe way.

By Marga López, agrifood journalist

In an act that took place last Wednesday at the Research Center of San Nicolás (Almería), Bayer presented the results obtained by the company in 2018 while opening one of its centers of excellence where we could know first hand what and how Bayer works daily to offer solutions for agriculture.

This past year, as Bernardo Kanahuati, CEO of Bayer in Spain and Portugal, has shown, has been historic for the company, largely due to the acquisition of Monsanto: “This fact has placed us as a world leader in agriculture, position that we assume with responsibility and enthusiasm to be part of the solutions of the global food challenge “.

Bayer recorded sales of 849 million euros to customers in the Iberia region (Spain and Portugal) in fiscal year 2018, which represents a growth of 1.1% compared to the previous year. Specifically, sales in Spain reached 688 million euros, a 1.6% increase.

“We are committed to bring new solutions to farmers, to help them in their daily work, always taking care of the environment and taking care of a more sustainable world”

These data confirm the path of sustained growth in one of the most relevant moments for the company that, after the most important acquisition of its history, looks to the future with optimism. “This year, in addition, we celebrate 120 years of presence in Spain, a date that we commemorate with pride but also with the responsibility it entails, in a moment of transformation of the organization in Spain and in the world,” said Bernardo Kanahuati.

Bayer Crop Science

If we focus on the Crop Science area, sales of 243 million euros have been registered in Iberia, representing a growth of 3.6%. In Spain sales amounted to 211 million, 3.9% more than the previous year, of which 36 million come from the incorporation of Monsanto. “We work to face one of the great challenges of society, the growth of the population and how to feed it. We want to do it from a position of strength, of responsibility to build a more productive and sustainable farmer, “said Protasio Rodríguez, Director of this area for the Mediterranean Area and General Director of Iberia. “We are committed to bring new solutions to farmers, to help them in their daily work, always taking care of the environment and taking care of a more sustainable world”

Bayer currently has five leading Research Centers in agricultural matters

If we look at the results of the area in our country, Bayer Crop Science has closed the year 2018 as the market leader in Spain for the second consecutive year. Among the novelties for 2019 is the launch of the Nematicide BioAct® Prime, also authorized for organic production, and Nematool, a digital tool for the control of nematodes through the mobile (small microorganisms that cause damage to plants because they feed on its roots).

Strong investments

2018 has also been a positive year in terms of investment: € 37 million in Spain alone. This figure integrates the investment in terms of infrastructure, which in line with the previous year is around 12 million euros, and is completed with the R & D data that exceeds the figure of 2017 reaching 25 million, in a particularly important year to the company.

Bayer’s commitment to Spain is also shown in its team, which has more than 2.1000 employees in the country, distributed in the different research centers, production plants and offices that the company has distributed throughout the territory. This figure includes the 308 employees assigned to research and development tasks that are distributed in the 6 research centers that the company has in Spain.

Visit Research Center

Bayer currently has five leading Research Centers in agricultural matters: three in Almería (San Nicolás, El Ejido and Níjar); another in Murcia of outdoor developments (lettuce, tomato, melon, broccoli or cauliflower); and finally, another one is added in Brenes (Seville), of developments in the field on crop protection. Between these centers 125 people work and have laboratories and greenhouses with a size of 40 hectares.

On this occasion we were able to see the work of the San Nicolás Center, focused on horticultural crops for genetic improvement in greenhouses.