June 29, 2011

 

Bayer and RAGT sign agreement for access to winter wheat

 

Bayer CropScience and RAGT Semences SAS have signed a license and cooperation agreement, granting Bayer CropScience access to RAGT's winter wheat germplasm and associated molecular markers.

 

RAGT Semences SAS, a privately-owned company based in Rodez, France, has one of the strongest winter wheat breeding programs in Europe. In addition, both companies will explore joint projects to further improve wheat breeding, and RAGT will have options to license wheat traits from Bayer CropScience.

 

Financial details were not disclosed.

 

"We are very excited about our partnership with RAGT and the opportunities it will bring in the future," said Sandra E Peterson, Chairman and CEO of Bayer CropScience. "This mutually beneficial agreement will further strengthen the wheat breeding programs of both partners."

 

"This agreement represents a major step for RAGT in further expanding its solid position in the European wheat seed market," said Daniel Segonds, Chairman of RAGT Executive Board.

 

Wheat is a key crop for both partners, commanding huge research efforts involving both conventional and new breeding techniques in order to address future challenges in agriculture.

 

"Thanks to Bayer CropScience's strong traits portfolio and the company's unique skills in advanced technology, combined with its commitment and means to address these new challenges, Bayer CropScience certainly represents the ideal partner for us," said Segonds.

 

"We are convinced that this cooperation will be a source of sound solutions for European growers, and will highly benefit both partners," he added.

 

In July 2009, Bayer CropScience announced the expansion of its global activities in seeds and traits, to include a focus on cereals. As part of its investment plans, the company is increasing its research and development resources to raise productivity of wheat cropping.

 

To support its internal research and development efforts, Bayer CropScience has already entered into collaborations with CSIRO in Australia, the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, USA, and Evogene in Israel.

 

In 2010, Bayer CropScience also acquired two wheat breeding programs in the Ukraine. The first new wheat varieties from the company's global wheat breeding program are expected to be available within the next five years.