Multinational chemicals and pharmaceuticals company Bayer is bringing new medicines for prostate cancer and cardiovascular diseases, as well as new hybridised canola-oil seed variety and chemical and biological crop- and root-protection treatments, to South Africa and Africa to support improved agriculture and healthcare.

The products are being matched by information being made available through governmental and nongovernmental channels to enable African countries to use Bayer’s €3.2-billion global yearly spending in research and development (R&D), says Bayer South Africa CEO and Southern Africa Crop Science head Klaus Eckstein.

Bayer, maker of the iconic Zam-Buk balm, is developing its offices in Angola, Zimbabwe and Zambia to serve Bayer’s Africa strategy. It will also introduce its new technologies in crop protection to sustainably improve crop yields and crop quality for all farming enterprises ranging from commercial to small-scale farmers.

The company has also released ‘monodose’ products, which repackage crop treatments into smaller containers to match the requirements of small-hold farmers that will improve crop yields and quality.

“Our engagement with farmers must cross the last-mile challenge in a vast continent. We are leveraging our existing partnerships with nongovernmental organisations, partners, farmer organisations and governments to understand farmer’s needs, deliver information, demonstrate the benefit of our solutions and develop and supply our crop protection range that will help farmers to improve yields and crop quality. This will enable them to become participants in formal supply chains,” says Eckstein.

He adds that this will boost food supply, food security, the development and growth of rural economies and the commercial success of large commercial farmers.

Africa has about 202-million km2 of underused arable land. Some of Bayer’s engagements include development and demonstration trials, which aim to show farmers the effect of modern agricultural crop protection solutions to safeguard crops and produce quality and yield, while reducing negative impacts on the environment

Further, Bayer notes that South Africa has a highly developed agriculture economy, which requires innovative technologies to retain its international competitiveness. Bayer has introduced a new cotton variety, which has improved the fibre quality and yield and intends to launch a new canola variety in 2015.

The company also has seed-treatment processes that protect against soil pathogens, fungi and nematode (parasitic worms) that damage plant root systems. One of the seed treatments against nematode worms includes treatment of the exterior of the seed with a chemical combined with a biological component (bacillus firmus bacteria). This treatment strengthens the root system, protects the emerging seed from soil pests and improves plant health during the early development for a high-yielding production system.

“Our R&D teams are developing the broader use of biological compounds, which complement traditional crop protection methods. For example, the bacillus firmus bacteria also protect against soil pathogens by taking up the space where they can grow; effectively displacing them from the roots,” says Eckstein.

Meanwhile, Bayer Southern Africa divisional head of healthcare Frans Labuschagne notes that the company is increasing its research in biological compounds for the treatment of various conditions. It has developed biological medicines for colorectal, gastrointestinal and prostate cancers. It is set to launch the medicines in South Africa, but registration processes for new medicines can take between 18 and 36 months.

The company is also launching new anticoagulants, cardiovascular and oncology products in Africa, he concludes.