Bayer CropScience partnership helps organization achieve success in four strategic areas

Programs supporting four key issues critical to the continued vitality of Western agriculture achieved more success this year, thanks to a one-of-a-kind partnership between Western Growers Association (WG) and Bayer CropScience.

The unique partnership, called Green Field Alliance (GFA), was launched in late 2004 with the goal of enhancing the value of programs and services that are critical to the growth and success of Western Growers, according to the two organizations.

Hank Giclas, vice president of science, planning and technology with Western Growers, says the GFA partnership has helped deliver solutions to problems facing California and Arizona growers. “I am certain that without this significant support from Bayer CropScience, we would not have achieved this level of success in these areas.”  

Under Green Field Alliance, Bayer CropScience increased its contributions to WG based on its product sales to WG members.  “We have always been a committed supporter of Western Growers and their programs,” says John Smith, portfolio business manager with Bayer CropScience. “And, with the Green Field Alliance that commitment only keeps increasing.”

In November 2005, the original contribution from Bayer Crop Science under the Green Field Alliance program targeted four priority issues for WG: food safety, federal farm policy, immigration and transportation.

Here’s how WG has used Green Field Alliance funding to make significant achievements in those areas:

Food Safety

Microbial and chemical contaminants that may be associated with select fresh fruit, nut and vegetable commodities, particularly E Coli 0157:H7 and perchlorate have been the focus of much media, buyer and consumer attention.  Green Field Alliance funding helped underwrite research and develop background information and exposure assessments as well as to prepare and deliver expert testimony to policy makers and others.  

Farm Bill/Specialty Crops

Western Growers initiated the Specialty Crop Competitiveness Act that was passed and signed into law and WG spearheaded efforts to secure the subsequent funding for the Act. WG is now leading the development of a second Specialty Crop Act as well as in the development of proposals for specialty crops in the 2007 Farm Bill.  Green Field Alliance helped defray expenses associated with these activities

Immigration

WG is committed to enacting new policy that will ensure a legal, stable work force for agriculture without sacrificing the security of our borders. Bayer funding through Green Field Alliance will continue to be important in our efforts.

Transportation  

A shortage of equipment and qualified drivers has created a transportation crisis for the fresh produce industry. Green Field Alliance funding has helped develop and implement a pilot project collaborating with a third party logistics firm to supply consistent transportation to a consortium of shippers.  

Besides these efforts, WG has used Green Field Alliance funds to start another strategic initiative, a communication outreach program to bring these and other issues to the industry.

“We’ve used online meetings and seminars sometimes referred to as “webinars” to be a very successful method of bringing the industry together with leading experts without the logistical challenges or expense of traveling to remote locations,” Giclas says.   

“Bayer’s investment in the industry through contributions to Western Growers is resulting in novel approaches to complex bottom line problems facing the California and Arizona fresh produce industry,” says WG’s Giclas.

Concludes Smith, ”Bayer CropScience is grateful for the opportunity to not only help Western Growers solve crop protection problems, but also to help solve industry-wide policy issues through the Green Field Alliance.”

Bayer CropScience LP is the U.S. business of Bayer CropScience, which has its global headquarters in Monheim, Germany. Bayer CropScience, a subsidiary of Bayer AG with annual sales of about EUR 6 billion, is one of the world’s leading innovative crop science companies in the areas of crop protection, non-agricultural pest control, seeds and plant biotechnology. The company offers an outstanding range of products and extensive service backup for modern, sustainable agriculture and for non-agricultural applications. Bayer CropScience has a global workforce of about 19,000 and is represented in more than 120 countries, ensuring proximity to dealers and consumers.