Feeding the world: the power of unusual collaboration in agritech – Financial Times

To advance food security, Berninger says these partnerships must focus on finding solutions in three areas: reducing the environmental impact of agriculture, adapting to the devastating effects of climate change such as rising temperatures and flooding, and access to innovation. and provide affordable solutions to 600 million smallholder farmers around the world. “If you get these three things right, the food system can play a truly transformative role,” Berninger says.

It is important to note that the farming community is willing to adapt. In the 2023 Farmer Voice global survey, 84 percent of respondents said they are working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and 57 percent said innovation in seeds, traits and crop protection is one of the biggest opportunities for revenue growth. The survey also found that 48 percent of farmers said they need to be more efficient on the same land to be successful in the future.

Innovation in agriculture

Rice is a key area for agritech solutions. It is the third most produced food in the world, and more than half the world’s population consumes the majority of its calories from rice, according to the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). However, the World Wildlife Fund reports that rice cultivation accounts for 12 percent of global methane emissions and 1.5 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, rice accounts for up to 43 percent of global water withdrawals for irrigation.

Rice is therefore critical for food security and a significant contributor to climate change and water consumption. To help solve this puzzle, Bayer sought innovative solutions that promote mitigation, adaptation and access. Last year, Bayer and IRRI announced the introduction of their innovative direct seeded rice (DSR) system at the International Rice Congress in Manila. At the same time, Bayer aims to improve water use per kilogram of crop by 25 percent by 2030, which will transform rice farming systems for small customers in the respective regions where Bayer operates.

Compared to conventional rice cultivation with transplantation, DSR can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 45 percent (mitigation) and reduce water consumption by up to 40 percent (adaptation). Bayer plans to provide access by expanding DSR to one million hectares across India, supporting more than two million early smallholder rice farmers.