Bayer CropScience and CSIRO Strengthens Collaboration on Cereal Crops

A new agreement was recently forged between Bayer CropScience and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) in Australia. The new two- year agreement will be on the development and application of models to assess the system-wide consequences of new generation cereals as they address global environmental and food security challenges. The collaboration between the two parties builds on a decade of long-term research alliance and license agreement since June 1998, on the development of crop varieties with greater yield, more efficient nutrient utilization, and tolerance against stress. The new project will include the full environmental impact including their influence on the carbon footprint of cereal production.

"New generation crops offer enormous potential to help Australia and the rest of the world deal with the future demand for food. Through reduced input requirements and/or improved efficiency of use of water, energy and nutrients, they also have the potential to reduce pressures on the environment, including reduce the greenhouse emissions contributing to climate change," said Dr. Brian Keating, Director of CSIRO's new Sustainable Agriculture Flagship.

Details of the press release can be viewed at http://www.bayercropscience.com/bcsweb/cropprotection.nsf/id/EN_20100318?open&l=EN&ccm=500020