By Jamie Martin
Bayer has strengthened its position in the wheat sector through a new licensing agreement with RAGT, one of Europe’s leading wheat seed companies. The partnership supports Bayer’s goal of bringing hybrid wheat varieties to market in Europe and North America by the early 2030s.
The collaboration gives Bayer access to high-quality wheat genetics developed for European environments. These resources will be integrated with Bayer’s breeding programs to create new hybrid wheat varieties that can better meet the needs of farmers.
Wheat remains a vital crop worldwide, covering more than 220 million hectares and feeding a large share of the global population. Despite its importance, wheat production growth has slowed in many regions, while climate pressure continues to increase.
“Wheat is one of the most important staple food crops in the world. But wheat production has stagnated and is coming under pressure from prolonged drought and heatwaves, such as the one we just experienced in Europe. At the same time, sturdier hybrid varieties of wheat are still not widely available,” said Peter Mueller, Cereals, Cotton, Canola/OSR & Biofuels Lead at Bayer’s Crop Science division.
He continued, “Our deal with RAGT is about to change that. Combining RAGT’s top performing germplasm and know-how with our breeding capabilities will significantly boost and expand our pipeline of hybrid wheat varieties, allowing us to compete in a rapidly evolving market. With the North American program in full gear, we will deliver higher value to growers on both sides of the Atlantic.”
Hybrid wheat technology offers a promising solution. By combining strong parent lines, breeders can develop wheat plants with improved vigor, higher productivity, and greater adaptability to environmental stress.
Bayer plans to use its breeding capabilities, crop protection expertise, digital agriculture tools, and seed production knowledge to support the development of a complete wheat production system. The company expects the genetics used in its breeding programs to be suitable for a large share of wheat-growing areas in both Europe and the United States.
Farmers could benefit from increased yields, improved crop establishment, and stronger resilience against drought, heat, pests, and diseases. Initial hybrid wheat products are expected to provide yield advantages of around 10 percent compared to conventional wheat varieties.
The agreement also highlights the growing importance of innovation in agriculture. As demand for food rises and weather conditions become more challenging, investments in advanced crop breeding technologies may help strengthen food security and improve long-term farm productivity.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-ianchrisgraham
Categories: National