Bayer CropScience Offers Integrated Solutions For Specialty Crop Producers
February 18, 2014
Robert Schrick is strategic marketing lead for Bayer CropScience’s horticultural division.
Developing products and going to the market in search of users is not the primary strategy for many crop protection companies these days, and certainly not for Bayer CropScience (BCS). During a recent interview with Robert Schrick, strategic marketing lead for BCS’s horticultural division, he explained in detail the new focus of the company – to assist growers in the production of better quality, higher yielding, and more sustainable crops by offering integrated solutions.
“Our primary task is getting a deep understanding of grower needs, and we see the best way of doing that is to look at the crop specifically and the growing of that crop. In turn with that deep understanding, we want to offer that grower an integrated crop solution where not all the components would come from Bayer, but what it would be built toward and helping that grower take his production to the next level,” said Schrick.
That sought-after next level in the produce growing business may vary widely, depending on the region and the grower. In some cases that level would be accessing new, more lucrative markets with stringent Maximum Residue Level regulations for fresh produce; in others, it might be the only chance for survival.
Florida citrus growers are sadly the perfect example for the latter, as Schrick pointed out: “These growers are under intense pressure; they are in a survival mode with HLB (Huanglongbing) and citrus greening.” Based on feedback from their sales team, BCS came up with a research grant to help control HLB. “Our sales reps are actually contributing to that grant. They are taking away from their budgets to be a part of this grant because it was just a spur of the moment thing and wasn’t budgeted for, but we found the way. That all came from this crop focus and looking at the market in that fashion,” he added.
This crop focus approach is carried on by exercising a continuous gap analysis, Schrick explained. “If we look at raising grapes, say in the Central Valley of California, we look at that market place, that region, that geography, and the demands and needs to grow that crop. How can we improve the raising of that crop? So that’s the way we would look at it, and have our development, scientists, our research, and our technical sales groups all focused on that.”
One of the latest fruits of BCS’s integrated solutions approach is the new line of fungicides Luna released in the U.S. in 2012. Currently registered for seven crops (apples, cherries, tree nuts, wine grapes, potatoes, and watermelons), Schrick said that Luna keeps surpassing expectations. “We are seeing this product has benefited beyond its fungicidal capabilities. For the cherries is the stem, the firmness, and the [fruit’s] ability to keep its characteristics for a longer period of time; it is the same for apples.”
Schrick added that the Luna technology is a very strong tool for the grower in terms of managing resistance. “We built this fungicide in a fashion to avoid resistance, so you will never see that molecule [Fluopyram] by itself as a foliar spray; it is always in mixtures. All of our brands are a combination of products and that’s to protect that fungicide from resistance.”
According to Schrick, Luna will be registered on a wider range of fruit and vegetable crops in time for the late 2015 growing season, and more products will soon hit the marketplace.
“We have a lot coming out our portfolio. These are exciting times; we are very fortunate,” Schrick concluded.
Subscribe Today For
