Is it possible to grow more food without starving the planet?

Recently, Bayer had the opportunity to join a panel conversation in Ghent, Belgium. We frankly don’t do enough of those, so I want to be part of these discussions as much as possible. In the panel, we joined a well-known NGO and a young farmer. Both represented the dilemma which we are now facing: the NGO put the onus on the agricultural sector to significantly improve the protection of biodiversity. The farmer from his side wants to be recognized as part of the solution to societal challenges and do the utmost to implement any new tool that helps to be more sustainable, but it has to make economic sense. With margins so low, many have given up.

Looking at the climate challenges and societal needs ahead of us, there is a clear understanding that we all need to help to change a system by improving on both ends – production of more safe and affordable food in conditions which farmers can hand over to the next generation. But we also need to improve on preservation – of biodiversity and the world’s limited resources – and address climate change. 

Making a Commitment to Change

Although modern agriculture has been very successful in feeding more people on limited farmland, we cannot operate with a mindset as if the world’s resources were an inexhaustible supply. Bayer takes its responsibility seriously and has set ambitious commitment targets for 2030, including:

• Reducing the environmental impact of our crop protection products by 30 percent.
• Working toward a carbon-neutral future for agriculture in the main regions we serve.
• Enabling 100 million smallholder farmers gain access to sustainable products and services.
  

Reaching these goals will not solve the problem but we want to bring our proposals to the table. It is now up to us to make this happen. None of these goals are easy, nor are we 100 percent certain of how to achieve them, but setting high standards is essential if we are to create transformative change.

To keep us on track, Bayer will establish an independent Sustainability Council, consisting of external experts who will monitor and challenge the measures we take to make agriculture more sustainable. 

Agriculture and Climate Change

The report from the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is clear: agriculture, forestry, and other land uses account for 23 percent of human greenhouse gas emissions. The report also acknowledges that these areas absorb the equivalent of almost a third of the carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels and industrial activities. So, while agriculture is part of the problem, it can also be part of the solution through the development of more sustainable and restorative land management practices.

This is our mission for a better life: seeking opportunities to better adapt to our changing climate allows us to explore new creative solutions.

Consider Joyn Bio, a joint venture between Bayer and Ginkgo Bioworks. The goal of this collaboration is to improve beneficial microbes so they can produce the nitrogen crops need to thrive. If successful, this breakthrough would reduce the need for synthetic fertilizers, drive down greenhouse gas emissions and reduce water pollution associated with fertilizer run-off. That’s a win-win for farmers, consumers and the planet, and a potential game-changer for agriculture.

Collaboration and Transparency are Key to Sustainability

Making significant improvements toward a more sustainable future also requires sound actions and honest conversations. Similarly, we must do a better job in fostering meaningful engagement with consumers, policymakers and other stakeholders by allowing unhindered access to what we do and how we do it. Bayer was the first company to make our regulatory safety studies accessible online. We believe in letting our science speak for itself, so why not share it? However, we know dialogue involves more than talking or showing, and we must also be ready and willing to listen to what people have to say.

One of the more controversial paradoxes in today’s agriculture involves technology. While some are concerned about the technologies used in plant breeding and crop protection, the simple truth is we will need even more innovation in the years ahead, in solutions and application technology such as robotics and drones. Environmental sustainability and technological innovation are inextricably linked, not mutually exclusive, so it’s important to allay concerns by being transparent and by developing measurable targets to reduce environmental impact – showing we’re on the right track.

Overcoming Agriculture’s Paradox

Industry players like Bayer have a clear responsibility, we share the sense of urgency and are also disappointed in the lukewarm outcome of the latest COP in Madrid. We should, however, not rely on governments to be the engine of climate action. We need to act as a catalyst and contribute our share to help preserve and produce in a manner that offers a future beyond Fridays.