For healthy potatoes - Bayer CropScience

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We need to have a good idea of future needs to guide research starting now as new products commonly take over a decade to develop before they reach users. Overall, any credible vision of the future of global farming needs to accommodate an expanding demand for both food and non-edible crops produced sustainably – against a background of food and non-food crop demand, population growth, climate change and diminishing natural resources such as biodiversity, land, soil, energy, and water. Clearly, steady and substantial gains in crop productivity will be essential, and this is most likely to be achieved through knowledge-based agricultural intensification, using state-of-theart science and technology, accompanied by improved capacity building. While understanding that technical solutions form only a part of what is necessary to address all challenges Bayer CropScience can contribute to a variety of aspects that will be key to improving farm productivity in future. As a technology and service provider for agriculture we have considerable skills and resources to contribute to rural and economic development. But there are clearly other limiting factors: we look to governments to provide the necessary enabling environment required for business to operate effectively in a strong and stable political, legal and economic context. Improved governance, linked to the rule of law and democratic processes, is of fundamental importance as is sustained investment in rural infrastructure and capacity building. Better access to domestic and international markets and open trade can also play a crucial role in improving the profitability of agriculture and the welfare of rural communities but must be underpinned by appropriate polices and incentives. With these political issues addressed, the scope for innovative technologies to make a major contribution becomes far more feasible and likely. Production of biofuel is increasing rapidly. Plant breeding, biotechnology and crop protection products Particularly important in the medium and long term is the progress made possible by advances in crop genomics that will provide the springboard for the development of enhanced crop production. Greater understanding of the molecular basis of all aspects of a plant’s physiology and its controlling genome will enable the development of enhanced crop varieties and the development of crop protection products with innovative modes of action. About half of the past increase in agricultural productivity is estimated to have come from higher yielding crop varieties, but the gains using traditional plant breeding technology seem to be close to a ceiling with most major crops. From a sustainability viewpoint, novel crop varieties that use resources more efficiently and more sustainably are the promise. This also includes varieties that are less stressed by temporary water shortages or need less fertiliser or pesticides to grow. Biotechnology is making it possible to produce a vast range of products from plants that could replace products now derived from nonrenewable raw materials (such as special oils). Starches, proteins, biodegradable plastics and other biomaterials derived from improved plants will also become important in future to optimise processing in downstream industries. However, as with biofuels, the question of the future competition with food production for land and other resources raises some question marks. Consumer acceptability of biotechnology crops need to be respected and Bayer BioScience is addressing this at a very early stage of R&D and through stakeholder engagement at various levels so that mutual understanding and knowledge sharing can contribute to making informed choices of this technology that will surely be essential to meet future global needs. Improved land management, including conservation farming techniques Farming has become more knowledge based and today addresses economic, social and environmental challenges in a much better holistic and integrated way than a few decades ago. In many respects the prospects for developing innovative land management approaches, including conservation farming techniques that reduce water run-off, soil erosion, fuel use for tractor operations and contribute to carbon sequestration are key. Improving the 26 COURIER 2/06
A soil structure with the optimum self-regulatory mechanisms is the basis for sustainable agriculture. Precision farming is a technology with strong potential in the service of agriculture and the management of natural resources. management of natural resources is inextricably linked to improving the productivity and profitability of farmers worldwide; the challenge is to reach out to them. Better information and precision farming technologies One of the most exciting areas of innovation lies in the development and application of information and precision farming tools for agriculture and natural resources management. Precision farming (PF), or Site Specific Crop Management (SSCM), is defined as “a systems’ approach to managing soils and crops to reduce decision uncertainty through better understanding and management of spatial and temporal variability”. Expertise from many disciplines is utilised to integrate data from multiple sources to support decision-making at field, farm, watershed and/or regional levels. Most applications to date have focused on optimising the use of nutrients, pesticides, water and energy. It is clear that PF technology needs to be used in ways that fit local farming conditions but there is no doubt that site-specific management can improve profitability. Adoption of PF in different parts of the world has progressed patchily. In Europe and North America, efforts to reverse the long-term decline in profitability coupled with environmental issues of agriculture have been the main drivers. In some developing countries, simplified forms of SSCM have been created, driven by the need to produce more food, utilise inputs more efficiently and increase farm profits in response to declining food prices. The various concepts and technologies that will constitute tomorrow’s precision agriculture are still emerging. Where next The above examples by no means exhaust the range of innovative technologies and approaches that are becoming increasingly available to tackle the on-going challenge of sustainable increased productivity facing world agriculture. In the quest for the best solutions, trade-offs have been done in the past at the expense of the environment. But this is no longer acceptable and lessons have been learnt that are leading to a more integrated and holistic farming approach. Balanced resource management is key and Bayer CropScience is confident that its scientists will make an increasing contribution over the years ahead. The company in this context is committed to promoting the adoption of more sustainable land management practices at a landscape level within the framework of ecoagriculture through ICM. Building the capacity to develop innovative locallyadapted approaches, especially for the many small scale farmers hungry for knowledge will need to be addressed most effectively through cooperation with governments, non-governmental organisations, international organizations and development agencies, the agri-food industry and farmer’ organisations. Bayer CropScience operates within a multitude of economic, social, political and environmental contexts at the local, national or regional levels that are constantly changing and evolving. Doing business varies accordingly and the challenge is to tailor activities that benefit the environment, social equity and healthy economic growth in the communities in question. We need to have a good idea of future needs to guide research starting now as new products commonly take over a decade to develop before they reach users. The pace of change is accelerating and hence calls for a matching response from a R&D company. Bayer CropScience stands ready to share views with key stakeholders to see how best choices can be made together to achieve our common goal: sustainable development in agriculture. ■ Annik Dollacker, Bayer CropScience AG, Germany 2/06 COURIER 27
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For healthy potatoes - Bayer CropScience

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