The FINANCIAL -- Bayer CropScience is highlighting its food chain partnerships this year at Fruit Logistica 2012 in Berlin, the world’s leading trade fair for the fresh fruit and vegetable business.

According to Bayer AG, The company has forged food chain partnerships in more than 30 countries and 40 crops around the world, helping growers produce high-quality food according to the principles of sustainable agriculture. Bayer CropScience is present at Hall 20, stand C-15, during the Fruit Logistica from February 8-10.

Innovative solutions from Bayer CropScience based on seeds, crop protection products and a combination of services are making a major contribution to safeguarding harvests and improving the quality of produce.

“Bayer CropScience is striving to support fruit and vegetable growers in their efforts to market their produce internationally by developing and marketing customer-centric solutions,” said Dr. Birgitt Walz-Tylla, Head of Food Chain Management at Bayer CropScience. “We are uniquely positioned to connect the dots working together with all partners along the food value chain from seed to shelf.” New food chain partnership projects are planned in Europe, Asia and Latin America.

Since two years, Bayer CropScience and METRO GROUP have been working together through food chain partnerships. Main goal of this cooperation is to implement best agricultural practices according to international standards, promote improved farming methods and help selected producers and suppliers to meet consumer’s requirements in terms of food quality, safety, traceability and sustainability. To further expand joint food chain projects the companies recently have signed a formal partnership agreement.

Cooperation with Chingford to meet grower’s sustainability objectives -- Chingford, a leading fresh fruit importer and supplier in the United Kingdom, has also chosen Bayer CropScience as the preferred partner. A respective agreement was recently signed. Both partners recognize the importance of growers as the foundation of any sustainable food chain. Sustainably produced fruit and vegetables are becoming increasingly important to retailers and their suppliers.

In addition, the Bayer Sustainability Radar, an innovative service tool for food chain partnership projects will complete the comprehensive overview of Bayer CropScience´s offer towards the food chain.

Nunhems: Great performing new products -- Nunhems, Bayer CropScience’s brand for innovative seed solutions for professional and sustainable vegetable production, will present a number of new developments on its stand A-06 in Hall 1.2. Its award-winning Intense™ tomato range has been extended with the addition of new shapes and larger sizes, making it an attractive option for new sectors and different applications in the marketplace.

Another breakthrough product highlighted in Berlin is Kirene. This Galia melon changes its skin color from green to brilliant yellow when it’s ready to harvest, a fail-safe way of avoiding unripe product. As well as this, Kirene retains its sweet fragrance, great taste and firmness from field to mouth. Nunhems will also exhibit its entire portfolio of fruit and vegetable seeds designed to meet the needs of all sectors in the fresh produce markets.

Accelerating WHO Class I Insecticide Formulation Phase-Out -- Bayer CropScience’s product portfolio is constantly being rejuvenated through the company’s research and development efforts so that it meets the needs of customers and fulfills the requirements imposed by changing cultivation and market conditions. As part of its ongoing portfolio optimization efforts, the company is accelerating the phase-out of all remaining WHO Class I insecticide formulations by the end of 2012.

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