Through innovation and technologies, the Environmental Science unit at Bayer works to sustainably safeguard and advance the health, hygiene, and safety of people all over the world. With disease-fighting vector control activities, professional pest and industrial vegetation management systems, and solutions designed to care for forests, landscapes, and sports turf, we’re fostering healthy environments where people and communities can thrive today and in the future.

Eradicating malaria through vector control

The complexity and global reach of diseases, like malaria, for instance, requires the engagement of all major stakeholders in the agriculture industry. That’s why we’ve signed the “Zero by 40” declaration to eradicate malaria by 2040, making a commitment to work together with partners and share our diverse knowledge and resources with others in the industry as a part of the Innovative Vector Control Consortium.

To date, Bayer has supplied enough vector control products to protect over 200 million people from Malaria. We continue to seek innovative ways of overcoming challenges like mosquito resistance to ensure sustainable prevention for the 1.1 billion people still at high risk today. But our work doesn’t just focus on Malaria.

Over half of the world’s population is at risk of contracting vector-borne diseases, which occur from infections following bites from blood-sucking insects like mosquitoes, ticks and other infectious disease transmitting organisms. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), vector-borne diseases like malaria, dengue, zika, chagas, and leishmaniasis disease cause 700,000 deaths annually. Controlling the insects and other organisms spreading these disease (vectors) is the most effective way to eradicate these diseases.

Vector control uses a variety of interventions to target mosquitos and other insects, stopping them from spreading the diseases they may carry. We provide an array of solutions including indoor residual and residual surface sprays for application indoors, larvicides for use at insect breeding sites, and space sprays designed for application in large areas.

Our expertise has shown us that vector control needs a holistic approach if it is to be truly effective in helping save lives. With our 360° activities, we provide an innovative product portfolio, interdisciplinary partnerships, training and education programs as well as global advocacy.

Improving public health, hygiene, and food safety through professional pest management

Pests and rodents persist in our everyday lives posing health, hygiene, and safety risks, creating food loss and waste through infestation and contamination and even causing structural damage. The amount of food destroyed by rodents each year is estimated to be enough to feed over 200 million people.

Every day, Pest Control Operators (PCOs) manage complex pest-challenges in a wide range of environments and dedicate a considerable amount of time to inspecting rodent traps to prevent infestation and contamination that represents critical risks to food safety. To help usher professional pest control into the digital age, we’ve developed the Rodent Monitoring System. This digital mousetrap monitors information collected from sensors installed on each trap triggering an immediate, automatic alert to PCOs when rodents are trapped. The delivery of this type of digital pest management solution aims at shaping the future of Pest Management services.

We are working to improve public health and hygiene as well as ensure food safety by providing professional pest management solutions to monitor, repel and control pests. In our integrated pest management approach, we offer solutions, consultancy and training, and innovative new digital pest management and monitoring systems. We work closely with PCOs around the world to keep private and public spaces pest-free.

We also understand the importance of connecting consumers with qualified PCOs in their area to improve the quality of life at home. Currently launched in China, our ByePest technology offers local residents facing problems with pests at home the opportunity to schedule and pay for simple and immediate pest control services.

Ensuring safe travel and public spaces through industrial vegetation management

Wild plants are an important part of protecting biodiversity and often provide forage and habitat for pollinators. However, when these plants are left uncontrolled under power lines or along roads and railways, they have the potential to damage property and even have an impact on safety.

Rail traffic safety

In rail traffic, invasive vegetation can lead to safety issues, for the environment and passengers, and causes delays that have a massive impact on the economy – and, not least, for people who are waiting for their loved ones. To reduce these impacts, Bayer created the Smart Weeding System (SWS). This geo-localized digital platform uses weed detection technology allowing trains to target and spray only existing weeds reducing the amount of herbicides used to clear tracks by up to 50%.

Forestry – helping to sustainably provide wood for the world

In addition to these vital pieces of public life, we also offer vegetation management solutions specifically designed to improve the efficiency and sustainability of industrial forestry projects. By helping forestry plantations control tough weeds, invasive brush and difficult grasses, we’re helping protect natural forests, improve soil health and reduce carbon emissions while satisfying a growing world demand of renewable wood and wood-based products.

Maintaining beautiful green spaces where we live, work, and play

Our Turf and Ornamentals solutions are designed to help our professional customers grow and maintain beautiful landscapes and healthy turf, often for golf, sports, greenspaces and ornamental growers as well as providing solutions which cure and prevent lawn/ornamental diseases, insects and weeds. Our tailored solutions ensure important resources like water and labor are used effectively while improving environmental quality, biodiversity, and overall ecosystems.

Our Consumer Lawn and Garden business provides solutions specifically designed to help customers care for the green spaces where people live. In helping to maintain beautiful landscapes as well as curing and preventing lawn, garden, and ornamental plant diseases, we’re promoting healthy, outdoor lifestyles of people around the world.