Better Farming - August 2016

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26 Farm News First > Better Farming August 2016
It’s now more important than ever
to build solid bridges between our
agrichemical industry and the
general public, says Belinda Giesen-
Druse. She’s responsible for such
communication work with one of the
world’s biggest crop science corpora-
tions: Bayer in Germany. She is by
no means alone in this field. In fact,
the entire agrichemical sector now
believes such dialog is crucial.
This spring (just before negotia-
tions with Monsanto got started),
Bayer Crop Science CEO Helmut
Schramm pointed out that opposition
to pesticides means ever-greater
obstacles slowing down the develop-
ment of new compounds. The result
is a dwindling number of alternative
sprays. And limited choice greatly
increases risk of resistances develop-
ing in weeds.
Worldwide, this risk makes crops
more difficult – and more expensive
– to grow. Dr. Schramm’s message is
that sustainable agriculture, a farm-
ing strategy integrating chemical
control with environment and wildlife
protection, is the only way ahead.
This integrated approach has to be
explained to consumers who, in
Europe anyway, only get the bad
news about crop chemicals.
Trying for more transparency
means a dramatic growth in demon-
stration field plots, as well as whole
farms dedicated to showing consum-
ers (and farmers) that integrated
agriculture really works.
FEATURE
Making the case for
crop chemical interactions
Europe’s agrichemical industry discovers new ways to demonstrate the importance of
crop products and how their use can accompany efforts to protect wildlife and the environment.
by NORMAN DUNN
Demo farms and dialog: “Crucial for public acceptance of chemical use in crop protection,” says Bayer’s
Belinda Giesen-Druse, pictured here with Bernd Olligs, farmer of the ForwardFarming Damianshof.