CARY, N.C. – Verdesian Life Sciences, a worldwide leader in nutrient use efficiency technologies for agricultural use, is pleased to announce that it has joined Bayer’s Better Life Farming initiative in India to provide sustainable agricultural products like AVAIL® Phosphorus Fertilizer Enhancer, SEED100 and Nursery+® to smallholder farmers in India. These products will be offered across more than 750 Better Life Farming Centers supporting over 400,000 smallholder farmers throughout the region.
Bayer’s Better Life Farming (BLF) is a global, multi-stakeholder alliance, which works with partners across the agri-value chain to support smallholder farmers in developing economies to increase crop yields and farm incomes. Launched globally in April 2018, the BLF alliance has global partners that include: Bayer with its expertise in seeds, crop protection and agronomy; IFC, the development finance institution for impact assessment; and Netafim for drip irrigation technologies. In India, the BLF alliance works with additional local partners including: Yara Fertilisers for soil and nutrient management; DeHaat, AgriBazaar and Big Basket as off-takers; and Tata Trusts for improving rural livelihoods and promoting self-reliant agri-entrepreneurship.
“We are a global company, but one with a mission and a heart for small farmers all over the world,” said Kenneth Avery, CEO, Verdesian. “This relationship will allow growers in South Asia access to our sustainable ag products that will allow them to enjoy healthy crops and strong yields through efficient technologies.”
D. Narain, Senior Bayer Representative, South Asia and CEO & MD, Bayer CropScience Limited said, “Empowering smallholder farmers is crucial for India’s food security. Better Life Farming aims at enabling smallholders to unlock their farming potential. Reinforcing Bayer’s commitment to ‘Health for All, Hunger for None,’ the partnership with Verdasian will provide farmers with access to sustainable products encouraging financial security and know-how, thereby aiming at doubling their incomes whilst also protecting the environment. Through such strategic partnerships across the agri-value chain, we aim to create a sustainable eco-system where traditional and digital marketplaces co-exist with the common aim of providing farmers with greater choice.”
About Verdesian Life Sciences
Founded in 2012, Verdesian Life Sciences offers patented biological, nutritional, fertilizer enhancers, seed treatment and inoculant technologies for high-value specialty crops, row crops, and turf and ornamental markets. Verdesian’s plant-health products, nutritional catalysts and seed treatments/inoculants help growers farm more efficiently to maximize yields. Verdesian’s technologies answer the needs facing agriculture including increasing pressures on food demand, supply and food safety. Verdesian remains committed to the research and development of environmentally sustainable products. Further information about Verdesian is available at www.vlsci.com.
About Bayer
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. Its products and services are designed to help people and our planet thrive by supporting efforts to master the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. Bayer is committed to drive sustainable development and generate a positive impact with its businesses. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. The Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2020, the Group employed around 100,000 people and had sales of 41.4 billion euros. R&D expenses before special items amounted to 4.9 billion euros. For more information, please visit www.bayer.com.
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