Bayer Crop Science Australia Bayer Crop Science Australia

Innovations like biotechnology, plant breeding and digital tools have led to transformational changes in agriculture – improving yields, food security, environmental sustainability and human health.

As a leading brand for crop protection and seeds, Bayer Crop Science consistently invests more in innovation, discovery and R&D than others in the global agriculture sector.

While much of this work is done in labs and fields around the world, it has direct and tangible impacts for farmers in Australia and New Zealand, helping them grow food and fibre more productively and sustainably.

Show notes

Our host Ed Gannon is joined by Dr Bob Reiter, Head of Research and Development (global) and Chris Staff, Head of Customer Marketing (Australia/New Zealand).


• [02:15] Just how big is the R&D budget for Bayer Crop Science?

• [04:12] How important is R&D for the agriculture sector?

• [05:05] What does Bayer invest in, and why?

• [05:57] Bayer’s largest spend: breeding.

• [09:00] The role of growers in the development and adoption of new innovations.

• [09:41] The development of digital weed management.

• [14:50] How does Bayer decide what problems to tackle with R&D investment?

• [16:10] How long is the pipeline for new R&D, from idea to implementation?

• [17:17] Bayer spends between 5 and 10% of their R&D investment on digital. What areas are currently being focused on?

• [19:40] The launch and role of Fieldview in Australia: measuring and managing crops.

• [24:30] The role of AI in R&D, and for farmers.

• [26:32] The importance of not operating in isolation: working with grower organisations in Australia (Herbicide Innovation Partnership with GRDC)

• [35:55] Where will Bayer R&D be in ten years’ time?


Guest details

Dr Bob Reiter is head of Research and Development at Bayer Crop Science, overseeing the research and development pipeline for the division. Having held various leadership roles in R&D as well as in supply chain, Reiter has nearly 30 years of experience in discovering, developing and delivering innovative R&D solutions in the agricultural space.

Chris Staff is Head of Customer Marketing (Australia and New Zealand) at Bayer Crop Science. Chris is responsible for leading the development of customer-centric commercial strategies for Bayer’s crop protection, cotton and canola traits businesses. Chris’ 12 years with Bayer have included roles in asset management, channel key account management, field sales leadership and commercial excellence.

Regional Australians are disproportionately affected by barriers that impact access to health and mental wellbeing services. On this episode of Better Agriculture, we learn about how Bayer is contributing to sustaining our regional communities. The Bayer Big Fish challenge is tackling mental resilience across regional Australia, while the Red Cross Baby Hub program provides vital education and resources for mothers and babies in the remote indigenous Galiwin’ku community in the Northern Territory.

Show notes

Our host Ed Gannon is joined by Ben Thompson, the Key Account Manager at Bayer Crop Science, and John Hamparsum, a grain grower from Breeza in the Liverpool Plains of New South Wales. Later in the episode, Ed is joined by Sally Carr, Head of Group Partnerships at the Australian Red Cross.


• [02:29] Ben explains how the Bayer Big Fish Challenge came to be.

• [04:29] How does the Bayer Big Fish challenge work?

• [06:55] What is the Bayer retreat?

• [12:10] The changing perception of mental health in rural areas.

• [13:33] Sally explains the Red Cross Australia Baby Hub.

• [15:34] Isolation, education: What problems does the Baby Hub address?

• [17:27] The Baby Hub and Bayer, working together.

• [20:04] Success stories from the Galiwin’ku community.


Guest details

Ben Thompson is the National Key Account Manager at Bayer Crop Science. With 24 years of experience in Sales, Ben manages large accounts that make up to 60% of the total Bayer business portfolio. He specialises in the development of trade campaigns and programs targeted at the agriculture channel.

John Hamparsum is a grain grower from Breeza, on the Liverpool Plains in New South Wales. John and his sister run an intensive irrigated enterprise where they produce canola, cotton, sorghum, sunflowers and wheat. John was involved in the inaugural Bayer Big Fish Challenge in 2018, and the Bayer Retreat, and went on to nominate friends in the following years.

Sally Carr is the Head of Group Partnerships at Australian Red Cross, responsible for strategic corporate partnerships and philanthropic partnerships. With experience in working within corporate, BCorp and ‘for purpose’ organisations, Sally is a leader who helps tens of thousands of people facing challenging times.

In this episode, Craig White talks to the team talk about incorporating Routine© 200 SC Fungicide into a Banana Disease Management Programs. This episode features Brent Wilson, Group Agronomy Manager at Mackays in Queensland and Nick Matthews, Market Development Agronomist for Bayer Crop Science, who has been heavily involved in the development of Routine.

Join Bayer's Craig White in discussion with Brent Wilson from Mackays and Nick Matthews, Market Development Agronomist from Bayer Crop Science about holistic management of banana disease, the role of plant health and Biologics and how Routine® switches on plant defence through Systemic Acquired Resistance to help manage leaf disease like Yellow Sigatoka (Mycosphaerella musicola) and Common leaf speckle (Mycosphaerella musae) in bananas.

In this episode, Brent and Nick explain the important role that Routine 200 SC plays in a Banana Disease Management Program. Routine's mode of action (Group P03) differs from most fungicides and works by activating the plant´s natural defence system, helping the plant to protect itself. The Systemic Acquired Resistance is not washed away by rainfall and is boosted with each application. Brent Wilson, Group Agronomy Manager at Mackays www.mackays.com.au.

Get more information about how to use Routine from your local Bayer Crop Science Territory Manager or field agronomist, or visit the Routine product page: https://www.crop.bayer.com.au/products/fungicides/routine-200-sc-fungicide

Always read the product label before use. Some products mentioned may still be under development with an application for registration submitted. Such products will not be available for commercial use until APVMA registration approval is granted.

As the environmental impacts of farming cotton are becoming clear, how can Australian farmers and researchers develop more sustainable ways of growing cotton? On this episode of Better Agriculture, we explore the current state of Australia’s cotton industry, and innovations including expansion into new territories, managing climate change, and developing pest-resistant crops.
Show notes

Our host Ed Gannon is joined by Ben Turner, Territory Business Manager for Northern Australia at Bayer Crop Science Australia New Zealand, and Andrew Parkes, Director at Customised Farm Management to discuss:

· [02:04] Ben’s rundown on the cotton industry in Australia.

· [03:15] ‘Quality, not quantity’ for Australian cotton export markets.

· [4:02] Where does Customised Farm Management fit into the industry?

· [5:09] New growth of the cotton industry in the Northern Territory, and challenges growers face in new climates.

· [8:32] Andrew and Ben’s major innovations and changes in the industry from the last decade.

· [13:30] Developments of natural pest resistance and perceptions of genetic modification by consumers.

· [19:35] Opportunities for the industry to grow, busting myths about cotton.

· [21:57] Managing water use during water availability fluctuations.

· [25:04] How is the industry going to manage the effects of climate change?

· [28:10] Ben and Andrew’s predictions for the next 10 years of cotton innovation.

Guest details

Ben Turner is Territory Business Manager for northern Australia at Bayer Crop Science. Originally from the UK, Ben has been working in farm management in Australia for 11 years. His experience includes irrigated cotton in the Riverina area as well as mixed cropping. Ben’s passion for cotton led him to take on his current role with Bayer in the burgeoning northern growing region.

Andrew Parkes is the Managing Director of Customised Farm Management, an agricultural consulting company that specialise in managing and investing in agricultural land. Based in Moree, NSW, Andrew’s work has seen him recognised as an industry leader in the production of irrigated cotton, and was inducted into the Cotton Australia Hall of Fame in 2014

EPISODE 11 – Growing better potatoes through Holistic Crop Management including Serenade® Soil Activ

Bayer HortCast Episode 11 is hosted by Craig White -Market Development Agronomist at Bayer Crop Science Australia and he discusses Holistic Crop Management including the role of soil health and Biologics including Serenade® SOIL ACTIV with Darren Long from MG Farms, producing top class potatoes at Sheffield in Tasmania, and Damien Odgers, horticulture Business Development Manager from Bayer Crop Science.
In this episode, Darren and Damien explain the important role that Serenade® Soil Activ is providing in-field by increasing harvestable potato yield, tuber class and tuber uniformity leading to better pack out assisting with the grading and handling process, ensuring sustainable resource use and reduced wastage of potatoes. Darren explains his journey in growing top-quality produce with a “no book-ends” approach, and working with open minded agronomists to achieve the best outcomes and continue challenging the system,
Serenade Soil Activ is a new soil optimised addition to the Serenade family, formulated to achieve superior colonisation of plant roots and improved assimilation of soil resources, to take crop production to the next level. Featuring a concentrated formulation of the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain QST 713, for use as a soil ameliorant, Serenade SOIL ACTIV is organically certified (ACO and OMRI). The carefully selected and pure strain of beneficial bacteria in Serenade SOIL ACTIV has proven to increase nutrient availability and uptake, resulting in increased root and plant growth, across multiple field trials in Australia and around the world.
More information about Serenade Soil Activ can be found here: www.crop.bayer.com.au/products/bayer…ade-soil-activ
Bayer Crop Science website with other useful product resources and guides : www.crop.bayer.com.au search for a Solution, Label/SDS or Bayer Representative,
TWITTER (‘X’) CONTACTS
Damien Odgers twitter.com/OdgersDamien @odgersdamien
Craig White twitter.com/photobycw @photobycw
Bayer Crop Science Australia: twitter.com/Bayer4CropsAU
Users of products must read the label attached to the product before use. Labels and Safety Data Sheets are available at Bayer Crop Science: www.crop.bayer.com.au
Some products mentioned may still be under development with an application for registration submitted. Serenade® is a registered trademarks of the Bayer Group.

Episode #2: Mix it up for long-term weed management

Australia has one of the highest numbers of herbicide resistant weeds in the world and it’s estimated that they cost our farmers hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Tune into this episode of Better Agriculture to learn all about the weed challenge and what our farmers and innovators are doing to respond to Australia’s increasingly herbicide-resistant weeds.

Show notes

Host Ed Gannon is joined by Ken Young, Senior Manager of Biosecurity and Regulation at the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and Bayer Crop Science’s Head of Agronomic Solutions ANZ Weed Management, Michael Rouch, to discuss:

• [03:43] What is a weed?
• [04:42] The cost of weeds to Australian farmers and Australia’s economy
• [05:29] Herbicide resistance
• [08:43] Innovation at Bayer
• [10:15] Non-chemical methods
• [14:22] The factors at play in selecting herbicides
• [15:45] The Herbicide Innovation Partnership between Bayer and GRDC
• [24:13] Educational component of the Herbicide Innovation Partnership
• [26:54] AI and digital technology farming technologies
• [28:46] The future of weed management
• [30:25] Will we ever get rid of weeds?

Guest details

Ken Young is Senior Manager of Biosecurity and Regulation at GRDC. Ken works alongside industry and government stakeholders to identify gaps in agricultural research and development and oversees the investment by Australian grain growers in managing biotic threats.

Michael Rouch is Head of Agronomic Solutions (ANZ) – Weed Management and Digital at Bayer Crop Science where he is responsible for the development of new herbicides in Australia and New Zealand. Prior to moving to Melbourne to take on his managerial role, Michael conducted field trials in New South Wales for 30 years.

Resources and further information:

• GRDC publication on the cost of weeds (referred to by Michael Rouch):
https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/all-publications/publications/2016/03/impactofweeds

• Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resources Economics and Sciences (ABARES) ongoing weed impact research:
https://www.agriculture.gov.au/abares/research-topics/invasive-species/distribution-and-impacts#economic-impacts-of-vertebrate-pest-animals-and-weeds-in-australia

• The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s approach to weed management:
https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/pests-diseases-weeds/pest-animals-and-weeds

• Bayer and GRDC’S Herbicide Innovation Partnership:
https://www.bayer.com.au/en/major-herbicide-research-effort-enters-new-phase

• A recent article on Australia’s ongoing response to herbicide resistant weeds:
https://www.weedsmart.org.au/content/are-we-gaining-ground-against-herbicide-resistant-weeds/

• WeedSmart is celebrating 10 years as the industry voice delivering science backed weed control solutions to growers and advisors for long-term profitability in Australian Agriculture:
https://www.weedsmart.org.au/