BYesterday it plans to expand its range of vegetable seeds to include organically grown products, as it is committed to meeting a greater demand for organic and healthy fresh produce.
Focusing on tomatoes, sweet peppers and cucumbers for the greenhouse and greenhouse markets, the range will be introduced under a new umbrella name, Vegetables by Bayer, and the products will be sold under the Seminis and De Ruiter trademarks.
Tomato rootstock varieties will be added to the range in 2023, the company added.
Bayer’s decision to expand its portfolio comes in direct response to increased consumer interest in high-quality organic food.
According to the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), the demand for certified organic products continues to grow. Today’s global organic food market is estimated to be worth more than € 106 billion.
Meanwhile, the global organic food seed market was valued at $ 355 million in 2020.
That number is expected to grow to $ 480 million by 2025, presenting a valuable opportunity for Bayer customers to grow their business and improve access to nutritious fruits and vegetables.
“We serve growers around the world and believe they should have the freedom to choose the tools or practices that best suit the needs of their farms and the needs of their customers,” said Inci Dannenberg, President of Global Vegetable Seeds at Bayer . .
“The launch of our certified organic vegetable seeds represents an opportunity to continue bringing our best varieties and industry-leading disease resistance to growers in the organic market, while supporting consumer choice.”
The right tools for the job
Ricardo Crisantes, commercial director of Wholesum Family Farms based in Arizona, USA, welcomed the news.
“Organic certification standards require that we use certified organic seeds when available, and that is what our customers expect as well,” he said.
“We are very pleased that Bayer is supporting our market by offering certified organic seeds and we look forward to having a high quality selection of De Ruiter seeds for our organic greenhouse production.”
The commercial launch of the enhanced range is planned for early 2022 and will focus on the high-growth organic markets of Canada, the US, Mexico, Spain and Italy, with potential for future expansion based on market demand.
The announcement comes as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) celebrates the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables in 2021, which aims to raise awareness of ways to promote increased consumption of fruits and vegetables. .
Dannenberg, a strong supporter of the FAO project, added: “In everything we do, Bayer and our Vegetable Seed business remain committed to being the partner of choice, providing the best varieties and customized solutions to help our customers and partners. in growing their businesses while providing people around the world with safe, nutritious and delicious fruits and vegetables. “