OREANDA-NEWS. Bayer plans to drive forward the scientific debate on new chemical solutions in crop protection. Researchers from universities, other scientific institutions and start-up companies all over the world are therefore being encouraged to take part in Bayer Crop Science’s new Grants4Targets initiative. The program is aimed at finding innovative approaches in the field of weed, disease and pest control in crop plants.

Bayer will not only provide financial support for promising proposals but also accompany ideas and projects on a scientific basis. During the fostering phase, technologies from Bayer can also be used for further research into promising ideas and projects, which may then develop into regular scientific collaborations.

The objectives include fostering innovative ideas that could contribute to the development of selective and non-selective herbicides, and solutions to control plant disease pathogens (such as fungi) and plant pests (such as insects and nematodes). The focus will lie on new molecular targets and mechanisms of action. Applications for the program can be submitted via a website in a process that takes a few minutes. Only non-confidential information should be submitted; the intellectual property will remain entirely in the hands of the inventors throughout the collaboration.

“The challenges facing agriculture are so great that we need all of the ideas and creativity from small and big companies, universities and other academic institutions alike,” said Dr. Adrian Percy, Head of Research and Development at Bayer Crop Science. “We want to talk to scientists from all over the world about their approaches and help to accelerate the transition from fundamental research to products that are ready for the market.”

A similar program for medical applications has been in place at Bayer’s Pharmaceuticals Division since May 2009. Some 1,100 proposals have since been submitted and more than 140 projects supported.