The Role of Innovation in Modern Agriculture: Insights from Bayer's Frank Thiele
As the world population continues to grow, the demand for sustainable food production and conservation of natural resources becomes increasingly important. Innovative agricultural products are necessary to address these challenges, and one of the leading producers of such products is the German company Bayer.
In this interview, we speak with Frank Thiele, a representative and regional manager of Bayer's research and development department, to learn more about how the company creates innovative agricultural products, what characteristics such products should have, and the challenges facing modern agriculture. We also discuss Bayer's partnership with Agrosphere and the potential for agricultural development in Georgia.
How are innovative agricultural products created, and what are the stages of their production process?
Every day, Bayer's team of scientists researches new substances, studies their properties, and determines whether they can be used in future products. About 10,000 new substances are tested each year, but only one will eventually make it to market. The testing process is long and involves several steps, including assessing effectiveness, toxicity, and environmental impact. The process of analyzing the substance, creating an individual product, and bringing it to market takes about 10 years and costs Bayer around 600 million euros.
What characteristics should an innovative agricultural product have?
For Bayer, an innovative agricultural product should have high effectiveness, ensure healthy plant growth and development, and be safe for human health and the environment. It should also be easy for farmers to use, have recyclable packaging, and be reasonably priced.
In your view, what should a modern farmer be like, and what is needed for the proper development of agriculture?
The challenges facing modern agriculture include population growth, shrinking farmland, and climate change. To address these challenges, modern farmers should choose innovative agricultural products and adopt precision agriculture, focusing on saving resources and using products purposefully. They should also be open to innovation and continually interested in new opportunities in the field.
How would you rate Bayer's partnership with Agrosphere?
Cooperation between Bayer and Agrosphere started in 2005 and has been our exclusive partner for more than 18 years. Our relationship is very close and based on complete trust. Most of all, we are fascinated by the development of Agrosphere, we appreciate the high competence and knowledge of its team in agricultural sciences.
During this time, you would have learned a lot about Georgia. In your opinion, what challenges is the country facing now in the direction of agriculture?
Georgia is a traditional agricultural country and has great potential to produce more food than it currently does. Georgian farmers can almost fully satisfy the demand of the local market with food products created in the country. However, there are challenges in acquiring knowledge, and I believe that providing education and innovative technologies can contribute to the development of Georgian agriculture and its ability to meet the ever-increasing demand for agricultural products.