ForwardFarming: Demonstrating Sustainable Agriculture in Practice
Bayer ForwardFarming is a knowledge platform that demonstrates sustainable agriculture in practice.
In partnership with independent farmers, the initiative creates opportunities for demonstration, dialogue and collaboration on farms around the world. Customized agronomic solutions, proactive stewardship measures, and partnerships are implemented to show how, in modern agriculture, sustainability can be achieved.
Bayer ForwardFarming – Demonstrating Sustainable Agriculture in Practice
1:50 min
What is a Bayer ForwardFarm?
ForwardFarms are independent farms that are representative of the region in which they are located. The farmers proactively seek improvements in sustainable agriculture practices. The farms serve as a hub for exchange of ideas and insights that can be implemented locally, and globally.
These farms benefit from partnerships with both the public and private sector to support their business, produce high-quality food, feed, and renewable raw materials, while at the same time preserving farmland and natural resources such as water, soil and biodiversity.
Explore the Bayer ForwardFarming network below to learn more!
Implemented practices vary from country to country and from farm to farm and are defined by the farmer with support from Bayer where applicable – principally focusing on improvements, effectiveness and efficiency. As the name states, these solutions are very much customized, and involve a combination of elements, including:
Seeds
Decision support
Crop Protection Products
Precision & Digital Farming
Seeds
Selection of high-quality, certified seeds are essential for a good yield. Treatments help protect seeds against diseases and pests. Respectively, SeedGrowth™ is an example of an integrated system, providing products, coatings, equipment and services, that encourages optimal seed development through on-seed applications. Learn more here.
Decision Support Tools
Diagnostic, monitoring and decision support tools that report weather conditions, disease and pest warnings help optimize spraying schedules.
Examples include:
Bay+ Movida® - Linked to local weather stations, the system develops models for disease evolution, plant growth and treatment management in vine grapes
Septoria Timer – A tool that monitors the duration of leaf wetness on wheat plants and helps to determine if and when a fungicide treatment is necessary in wheat
Pheromone Traps – Help monitor for grapevine moths, a most damaging insect pest in vineyards
Crop Protection Products
Chemical and biological crop protection products combine to protect against weeds, pests and diseases. Decision support tools as mentioned above help to optimize the timing of applications and help apply only as much as is truly needed.
Precision Agriculture and Digital Farming
Many tasks such as sowing, fertilization, crop protection and harvesting are already supported with GPS-controlled precision systems. This technology avoids overlaps in the application of fertilizer and crop protection products, resulting in the savings of time and resources.
Digital farming is the evolution of agriculture into the digitalized world – local, data-driven insights will improve on-farm decision-making and execution.
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Proactive Stewardship
On every Bayer ForwardFarm, proactive stewardship efforts are essential elements that ensure product integrity, protect human health and preserve the environment. Actions address topics such as the safe use of crop protection products, the enhancement of natural habitats, and water protection.
Safe Use of Crop Protection Products
Ensuring the responsible handling and application of products is an essential part of farming safety. At the ForwardFarms, farmers are able to learn and adopt best practices to keep themselves safe and continue to produce healthy food.
For farmer support, Bayer provides an online tool called BAYER DRESSCODE with information about personal protection.
Bayer has also developed a new closed system device called easyFlow®. This device allows operators to measure and translocate crop protection products without being exposed to them.
Enhancement of Natural Habitat
On each farm, coexistence with the natural surroundings is important not only for the environment, but for the health of the crops. Depending on the local habitat and species, various features are implemented on the farms including:
Mixed plant hedges act as a windshield for fruit crops and help prevent spray drift.
Flowering strips and mixed hedges ensure that bees, wild pollinators and other beneficial insects have food and shelter throughout the year when active.
Nesting boxes are provided for small birds and resting places for predatory birds.
Insect hotels are established on the farms and are accepted especially by wild pollinators.
Open plots allow skylarks to land and build their nests in the surrounding wheat field.
Water Protection and Conservation
Water is used on farms in many ways. In many regions, irrigation is essential to grow crops. Water is also used in other activities such as the cleaning of sprayers and other machinery. While doing so, traces of crop protection products can contaminate the rinsing water.
A biological system for the disposal and cleaning of waste water used on Bayer ForwardFarms is called PhytobacTM. Residue water collected from a designated cleaning area is distributed slowly over a basin filled with a soil and straw mixture. Microorganisms in the soil remove chemical residue, and the clean water evaporates. Learn more about this technology here.
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Partnerships
To help farmers meet the growing agricultural challenges they face, we cannot act alone. Our partnerships include value chain participants, research collaboration with universities and industry partnerships to foster dialogue and community engagement.
Just a few examples of partnerships established by current ForwardFarms around the world include:
European Agricultural Machinery Industry (Belgium)
University of Ghent (Belgium)
Internet of Food & Farming 2020 (Netherlands)
World Biodiversity Association (Italy)
Stiftung Rheinische Kulturlandschaft (Germany)
Farmers are also empowered to share smart farming innovation and insights with fellow farmers and members of their local community to foster widespread knowledge and support for sustainable agriculture practices.
Hof ten Bosch
Hof ten Bosch, located in Huldenberg region near Brussels, Belgium, farms potatoes, wheat, sugar beet, corn, apples and pears on 148 hectares.
Use of high quality seed with appropriate traits and seed treatments to combat pests and disease and ensure healthy plant growth and optimum yield.
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Soil Health
No-till farming is used in conjunction with other conservation practices to increase water infiltration, sequester carbon, and maintain organic matter for soil fertility.
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Cover Crops
Cover crops are used to improve soil health, prevent erosion, reduce pollution and improve water quality in the surrounding areas.
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Precision Agriculture
GPS-guided technology optimizes the use of fuel and inputs, while reducing run times and waste, to promote healthier surroundings.
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Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
Environmentally-sensitive and economically-viable approach to the management of insects, weeds, diseases and nematodes.
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Renewable Resources
A solar site powers all of the on-farm facilities, including an irrigation pivot and the entire grain system, reducing the farm’s dependency on non-renewable fuels.
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Energy Efficient Systems
State-of-the-art grain dryers are solar-powered and designed to be energy efficient.
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Product Storage & Handling
Proper product storage and disposal, label adherence and the use of personal protective equipment are critical to the farm’s proactive stewardship efforts.
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Environmental Conservation
Buffer zones and dedicated conservation areas ensure preservation of the surrounding Chesapeake Bay.
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Habitat Enhancement
Pollinator strips, milkweed preservation and cover crops provide critical forage and habitat for wildlife.
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Collaborations
Leveraging skills and expertise from the community and organizations across the nation ensures smart farming that is ecologically aware and sustainable.
Chile
La Hornilla - Fundo Santa Inés
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Integrated Crop Protection Solutions
Integrating phytosanitary products in a sustainable way with modern agricultural techniques.
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Insect Pest Monitoring
Continuous pest monitoring allows accurate applications and only when necessary.
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Weed Monitoring
Permanent resistance monitoring of weeds, in order to implement control programs to avoid buildup of resistant weeds.
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Efficiency in Agricultural Tasks
Platforms to facilitate and improve thinning, pruning and harvesting, ensuring greater efficiency and safety in agricultural tasks.
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Weather and Irrigation Monitoring
Real-time information on weather conditions assists in achieving the correct use of crop protection products and optimal irrigation.
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Satellite monitoring
The satellite photographic spectrophotometric information helps determine orchard health throughout the season.
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Operator Safety
Maximizing user safety in all crop protection tasks through personal protective equipment and training.
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Targeted Applications
Efficient product application with electrostatic machines, which achieve better coverage, use less water, cause less drift and increase user safety.
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Water Protection
Phytobac®: Sustainable management of wastewater from cleaning equipment in a closed system that biologically breaks down crop protection product residues. Learn more here.
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Preserving Biodiversity
Planting of flower strips for feeding and proliferation of pollinators and other beneficial organisims.
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Healthy Hives for Pollination
Demonstrating good hive-management practices for healthy bees, ensuring optimal pollination services to the farm.
Argentina
Agrícola Testa
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Quality Seeds - The Foundation of Productivity
Selection of high quality seeds adapted to the geographic and climatic conditions of the region to ensure quality yields.
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Fertilization Assuring Quality Harvest
Conducting regular soil analysis to optimize organic and mineral fertilization, thereby preserving soil fertility for optimal productivity.
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Weather Monitoring
Up-to-date weather monitoring and prognostics not only allow the optimization of many farming tasks, but also support monitoring of disease and insect pests to optimize control.
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Weed, Disease and Insect Pest Monitoring
Regular scouting activities to monitor weed, disease and insect pest pressure support a comprehensive crop care and control program.
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Precision Farming
Modern machinery and information from digital farming equipment allow improved resource management, on-farm decision-making and execution.
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Integrated Crop Protection Solutions
Integrating agronomic techniques with chemical and biological protection products allows production of healthy grains which benefit both consumer and the environment.
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Operator Safety
Maximizing user safety in all crop protection tasks through personal protective equipment and training.
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Water Protection
Water used to clean application equipment is collected and crop protection residues are broken down naturally to avoid runoff into the environment. Learn more about the micro-organisms at work in the Phtobac® system here.
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Bee Hotel and Supporting Biodiversity
The installation of bee hotels and planting of flower strips improve the habitat for feeding and proliferation of pollinators and other beneficial organisms.
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Training
Education and training are fundamental in any profession. “I Apply Responsibly” is a training program that focuses on the importance of appropriate use of crop protection products.
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Cooperation & Dialogue
Advancing sustainable agriculture is not a challenge for a single group, but for all those who make up the sector. The farmer, and Bayer, regularly seek opportunities for cooperation and dialogue.
Brazil
Nossa Senhora Aparecida Farm
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Seeds
Creating value by using high-quality seeds and technologies that support the farmer to sustainably increase productivity and profitability.
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Soil Fertility
Improving soil fertility by optimizing crop rotation practices to achieve high, sustainable productivity.
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Integrated Weed Management
Identification and mapping of weeds and implementation of integrated weed management programs to limit proliferation.
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Integrated Disease & Pest Management
Implementation of techniques to monitor disease and pest infestation and make cropping recommendations to optimize the sustainable use of crop protection products.
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Nematode Monitoring and Control
Mapping of nematode infestation and crop damage to inform recommendation of integrated chemical and biological control to avoid productivity loss.
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Precision Agriculture
Use of machines and tools to optimize farming tasks and farming inputs.
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Erosion Control
Drainage basins along the road are used to capture water run-off to fill the groundwater aquifer, preventing erosion and avoiding pollution of lakes and reservoirs with eroded soil.
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Good Agricultural Practice
Trainings aim to help the farmer apply agricultural products in a responsible manner, protecting people, preserving the environment and improving crop yield.
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Valore Program
Farm certification program specifying production processes that follow legislation to ensure production of safe food, adding value to the value chain and competitiveness of the Brazilian farmer.
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Pollinator Care
Preservation of pollinators on the farm with conservation measures and harmonic coexistence between farming and beekeeping.
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Partnerships
Bayer ForwardFarming combines knowledge, experience, skills and new technologies with partners to grow the farming business successfully and sustainably.
France
Earl des Bruyères
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WEATHER MONITORING
Assessing leaf moisture, relative humidity, temperature, and windspeed to optimize farm management.
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PRECISION FARMING
Improving efficiency of applications by using cutting-edge sprayers with GPS and low-drift nozzles.
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IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT
Optimizing irrigation by using control tools such as tensiometricprobes.
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FERTILIZATION MANAGEMENT
Fulfilling the nutrient needs of crops through fertilizer management software such as Farmstar® and Airinov's drone.
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SOIL ANALYSIS
Conducting regular soil analysis to optimize organic and mineral fertilization, thereby preserving soil characteristics.
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SOWING PRACTICES
Implementing best practices in sowing to minimize the risk of wildlife exposure to treated seeds.
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PROTECTING POLLINATORS
Welcoming bee hives each Spring and abiding by a charter of commitment for good agricultural and bee-keeping practices.
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BIODIVERSITY
Taking inventory of and monitoring wildlife, such as birds, earthworms and beneficial insects, and taking measures to protect biodiversity, including planting hedges.
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PROTECTED SPECIES
Respecting good agricultural practices that protect the local bird species, Oedicnème Criard, nesting in the farm's corn.
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USER SAFETY
Partnering with Bayer to optimize personal protective clothing during crop protection product application and storage to maximize safety and comfort.
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WASTE-WATER MANAGEMENT
Designing a filling and rinsing station as well as installing the Phytobac® bioremediation system that ensures optimal on-farm wastewater management.
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PARTNERSHIPS
Bringing together experts and community members to foster dialogue on modern, sustainable farming.
France
Ferme de Bulas
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PRECISION FARMING
GPS-guided work tasks (sowing, spraying, fertilizing, harvesting) to optimize use of fuel and inputs.
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RATIONAL CROP PROTECTION APPLICATIONS
In cereals, fungicide applications are made with the help of an advisors supported by a decision-making tool called Positif® from Bayer.
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INNOVATIVE APPLICATION TECHNIQUES
Sprayers equipped with drift control and automatic boom section control.
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FERTILIZATION MANAGEMENT
Optimized nitrogen application taking into account evaluations made with the decision making support tool Farmstar® provided by the cooperative Axereal.
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INTEGRATED WEED MANAGEMENT
Adjusted weed management program and extended crop rotation (integration of pea protein) in the areas with resistant black grass.
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GOOD SOWING PRACTICES
Implement measures to limit the presence of grain on the soil surface which coud be eaten by wild animals when sowing.
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FARMING AND BEEKEEPING
The farmer and beekeeper signed a beekeeping and farming best practices charter to protect bees on the farm.
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BIODIVERSITY
Monitoring of biodiversity such as flora, birds, worms, pollinators, beetles, etc. Hedges and strips of corn were integrated into the fields to benefit wildlife.
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SAFE PRODUCT STORAGE AND HANDLING
Modernization of the product storage and sprayer filling area to improve working conditions and safety of the workers and environment.
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PHYTOBAC®
The bioremediation system ensures optimal on-farm wastewater management.
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TRACEABILITY OF APPLICATIONS
Testing of Keyfield automatic traceability system.
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PARTNERSHIPS
Bayer ForwardFarming builds on existing partnerships to leverage expertise and skills.
Germany
AGRO-FARM Nauen GmbH
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SEEDS
High-quality, certified seeds are the basis for a high yield.
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CROP PROTECTION
Combined use of chemical and biological crop protection products to promote sustainable production.
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DIGITAL FARMING
Digital measures support efficient use of crop protection products depending on each field's needs.
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EASYFLOW®
Implementation of a closed transfer system for liquid crop protection products that prevents spills for easier filling and cleaning.
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DROPLEGUL
A spray nozzle design that minimizes the effect of crop protection practices on the surrounding environment.
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FLOWERING AREAS
Planting flowers and other beneficial plants in strategic locations to protect flora, birds, beetles, and earthworms.
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PHYTOBAC®
The bioremediation system that ensures optimal on-farm wastewater management.
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SKYLARK PLOTS
Small, non-cropped areas serve as „landing areas“ for skylarks, supporting nest-building for the beneficial bird species.
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BEE HOTEL
Wild bees and other pollinators enjoy a safe haven for nesting and protection from bad weather.
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NESTING AIDS FOR BIRDS
Secure places for birds that nest in caves or cavities ensure safe conditions to rear their young.
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RENEWABLE ENERGY
Wind turbines, solar panels, and a biogas plant offer an alternative income while using natural resources in a sustainable manner.
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PARTNERSHIPS
Bayer ForwardFarming brings together competencies of mutually beneficial partnerships to demonstrate successful and modern sustainable agriculture.
Netherlands
Het Groene Hart
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SEEDS
Good and certified seed is essential for a good yield.
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BAYER SEEDGROWTH™
Integrated program aimed at sustainable seed and planting treatment and application technology.
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CROP PROTECTION
Combined use of chemical and biological crop protection products for a sustainable production of healthy food.
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PRECISION AGRICULTURE
Sustainable and efficient use of crop protection products with very targeted dosing.
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DECISION SUPPORTING SYSTEMS
Integrated information about weather conditions and disease and pest warnings in order to use crop protection at the optimum time.
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BIODIVERSITY
The added value of biodiversity for farmers, the environment and society.
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PERSONAL PROTECTION
Protecting the user of crop protection products with technology such as easyFlow and Bayer DressCode.
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EASYFLOW
Avoiding exposure of the user and the environment to concentrated products by using a closed transfer system during the filling of the sprayer.
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BEE HEALTH
Supporting bee health through pest control, enhancement of biodiversity and careful use of crop protection products.
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FARMYARD EMISSION
Prevent emission from the farmyard, with techniques like a dedicated cleaning place combined with a Phytobac®.
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PREVENTING RUN-OFF EMISSIONS
Prevent run off of applied crop protection products and fertilizers to surface water by plot design and special cultivation techniques.
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PARTNERSHIPS
Bayer ForwardFarming is a platform where partners work together to optimize agricultural practices.
Germany
Damianshof
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SEEDS
High-quality, certified seeds are the basis for good yields.
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BAYER SEEDGROWTH™
The fully integrated and holistic system allows seed to develop to its full potential.
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CROP PROTECTION
The use of checmical crop protection products protects the plant sustainably.
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WEATHER STATION
Accurate monitoring of temperature, rainfall and leaf surface wetness as a basis for integrated crop protection.
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SEPTORIA TIMER
Determining the right application time for controlling Septoria infection.
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PRECISION FARMING
GPS-controlled application optimizes the use of crop protection products and fertilizers.
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SOIL EROSION
Implementation of measures such as micro-dams to avoid erosion and protect the soil.
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PHYTOBAC®
A biological system for dealing with liquid waste resulting from crop protection operations.
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FLOWER STRIPS
The combination of annual and perennial flower strips offers food for insects as well as protection for birds and other animals.
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BEE HOTEL
Promotion of nesting places for wild bees, bumblebees and beetles.
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SKYLARK PLOTS
Small, non-cropped areas serve as "landing areas" and support nest-building.
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PARTNERSHIPS
Continuously meet the challenge of sustainable agriculture together with partners.
Belgium
Hof ten Bosch
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SEEDS
For good yields, you need high-quality certified seeds, which also ensure product integrity.
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CHEMICALS AND BIOLOGICALS
Chemical and biological crop protection products combine to tackle the challenges of sustainable agriculture.
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BAYER SEEDGROWTH™
The fully integrated and comprehensive system for on-seed application helps seeds to thrive and boosts yields.
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SERVICE PRECISION FARMING
Automated precision is the key to efficient farming and sustainably feeding the growing global population.
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WEATHER STATION
Monitoring leaf moisture, relative humidity, temperature and solar radiation to optimize spraying schedules.
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LOW-DRIFT NOZZLES
Minimizes the effect of crop protection practices on neighboring crops and pollinators.
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EASYFLOW
A closed transfer system for liquid crop protection products that avoids spills and facilities filling and cleaning.
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FLOWER STRIPS
Flowers and pollen from January to October ensure greater biodiversity and food for beneficials and pollinators.
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PHYTOBAC®
The bioremediation system that ensures optimal on-farm wastewater management.
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PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT
Operator protection is continuously optimized through risk assessment, training and new infrastructure.
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BEE HOTEL
Wild bees and other pollinators enjoy this safe haven for nesting purposes and protection from bad weather.
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PARTNERSHIPS
Bayer ForwardFarming unites the competencies of mutually beneficial partnerships in a single wholistic system.
France
Chateau Lamothe
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GRAPE VARIETY
Choosing the right grape variety and rootstock as the basis for the quality of the wine.
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TARGETED WEED CONTROL
Herbicides are targeted via band application close to the foot of the vines. This leaves vegetation between rows, limiting run-off and preserving habitat for biodiversity.
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DISEASE CONTROL - MILDEW AND BOTRYTIS
Chemical and biological crop protection products are combined to protect the vine from disease and manage resistence.
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SOIL ANALYSIS
Regular soil analysis allows optimal organic and mineral fertilization to preserve soil characteristics.
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DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEMS
Weather and mildew prediction models ensure the best-possible application timing.
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APPLICATION TECHNOLOGY
Jointly with our partner Berthoud, tests are carried out, the equipment is callibrated correctly and the application optimized.
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BEEKEEPING PARTNERSHIP
The beekeeper and the farmer have signed a Charter of Commitment for Good Agricultural and Beekeeping Pratices for the hives that are welcomed each spring.
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BIODIVERSITY
Implementing a variety of supporting measures to protect flora, birds, beetles and earthworms.
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BEE HOTEL
Wild bees and other pollinators enjoy this safe haven for nesting and protection from bad weather.
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HUMAN PROTECTION
Operator protection is continuously optimized through risk assessment, training and new infrastructure.
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PHYTOBAC®
The bioremediation system that ensures optimal on-farm wastewater management.
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PARTNERSHIPS
Bayer ForwardFarming unites the skills and expertise of different partners for continuous improvement.
Italy
Azienda Agricola Moranda
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INTEGRATED CROP PROTECTION SOLUTIONS
Integrating chemical and biological crop protection products in a sustainable manner with modern farming techniques to protect the vineyards from adversity.
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FUNGAL DISEASE MONITORING
Advance knowledge of fungal disease development in the grapevines through a decision support system ensures appropriate and timely intervention.
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PEST MONITORING
Smart digital traps provide real-time data on the population dynamics of insects harmful to the vines and enable intervention only when needed.
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WEATHER MONITORING
A weather station supplies real-time information on changes in weather and soil moisture enabling optimal irrigation and correct crop protection product use.
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OPERATOR SAFETY
Maximizing user safety throughout all stages of crop production, product application and storage with personal protective equipment and services.
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SAFE TRANSFER OF CROP PROTECTION PRODUCTS
Tools such as easyFlow™, a closed-transfer system, ensure operational efficiency and safety for the operator and the environment.
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APPLICATION OF CROP PROTECTION PRODUCTS
Effective treatment of crops through proper distribution of crop protection products on the plant.
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BIODEGRADATION OF CROP PROTECTION PRODUCTS
To avoid run-off of crop protection into the environment, tools like the Phytobac® system collect water used for cleaning equipment and break down residues naturally by micro-organisms.
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PRESERVING BIODIVERSITY
Fostering the coexistence of different species of animals and plants through the implementation of activities aimed at preserving natural habitat.
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BIODIVERSITY MONITORING
Regular monitoring of biodiversity status on the farm through the Biodiversity Friend® certification.
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PROTECTING BEES
Encouraging the presence of bees on the farm by taking measures that foster food availability and living space.
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PARTNERSHIPS
Bringing together the skillsets and expertise to demonstrate successful and modern sustainable farming.
Bayer ForwardFarming and Ghent University partnership allows farmers and scientists to put sustainable agricultural innovation into practice.
Moving Farming Forward
