São Paulo, Brazil
August 21, 2007
The
Bayer Group recently demonstrated its commitment to
environmental protection and social responsibility at the first
"Mostra Sistema FIESP de Responsabilidade Socioambiental"
(exhibition on socioecological responsibility) in São Paulo,
Brazil. More than 10,000 visitors attended the exhibition, which
was organized by the Federation of the Industries of the State
of São Paulo (FIESP). Around 60 other companies also
participated, although Bayer was the only chemical and
pharmaceutical company to attend.
“Bayer is committed to sustainable development worldwide, which
is why we are particularly happy to be here. This event once
again underscores the strategic importance of a topic which is
so vital for our future,” said Dr. Horstfried Läpple, Senior
Bayer Representative for Brazil. At the opening of the
exhibition, Läpple welcomed Paulo Skaf, President of FIESP, and
Francisco Graziano, Environment Secretary of the State of São
Paulo, to the Bayer stand and presented the Group’s sixteen
projects on social responsibility in Brazil. These include the
Green School in Belford Roxo as another example of Bayer’s
commitment in this field. In 2006, a total of 24 schools sent
pupils and teachers to lessons on environmental protection,
recyclability, waste utilization and tree planting as part of
urban landscaping measures.
Marc Reichardt, Head of Bayer CropScience in Latin America, also
took part in presentations and discussion sessions. Reichardt
emphasized the fact that Bayer CropScience also pursues its
global policy of sustainable agriculture in Brazil. Thus, since
April 2004, Bayer CropScience cooperates in the context of
social responsibility with Agência Mandalla, a Brazilian
non-governmental organization (NGO). The goal of this
partnership is to conduct projects to develop self-sustaining
family agriculture in the arid Sertão region in northeastern
Brazil. The NGO is specialized in developing efficient and
simple irrigation systems which are especially adapted for
small-scale farmers. The so-called "Mandalla" consists of a
central water reservoir of up to 30.000 liter which irrigates
crops growing around it and also provides a habitat for fish and
fowl as an additional food source.
Eckart-Michael Pohl, Head of Corporate Communications in Brazil,
and Marcelo Vasconcelos, Product Stewardship Coordinator of
Bayer CropScience, also gave reports on Bayer’s activities.
Bayer has been active in Brazil for more than 111 years and
currently supports social projects with more than 7 million
reals (approx. €2.6 million) each year. Some of the projects
have been in existence for over 15 years. |
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