Abu Dhabi, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, December 9th, 2024: Silal[i] and Bayer[ii], a global leader in life sciences with a strong focus on healthcare and nutrition, have strengthened their commitment to agricultural innovation in the UAE through the signing of a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit in Dubai. This milestone builds upon the successful partnership established between the organizations in December 2023.[1]
The MoU outlines an ambitious program of collaboration through 2028, focusing on four key initiatives designed to advance agricultural practices in desert environments while addressing climate change challenges. The MoU was signed during a ceremony attended by key stakeholders from both organizations and the agricultural sector.
Under the expanded partnership, Silal and Bayer will collaborate on developing cutting-edge digital farming solutions specifically tailored for the region's unique agricultural needs. A cornerstone of the collaboration will be the potential establishment of a ForwardFarming[2] demonstration site at Silal Innovation Oasis, showcasing sustainable desert farming practices.
The partnership will also scale up agricultural capacity building through Bayer's BayG.A.P. program[3], with particular emphasis on regenerative agriculture practices suitable for arid climates. A key innovation in this phase includes the implementation of digital monitoring and verification platforms to ensure the effective adoption of sustainable farming practices.
Additionally, the collaboration encompasses the extension of comprehensive vegetable seed trials aimed at identifying crops better suited to local growing conditions and market demands.
Mr. Salmeen Al Ameri, CEO at Silal, commented on the expansion of the partnership: "This MoU marks a significant advancement in our collaboration with Bayer. By combining our local expertise with Bayer's global technological capabilities, we are creating a framework for sustainable agricultural innovation that will benefit UAE farmers and reinforce our commitment to local food production."
Mr. Hugo Hagen, Senior Bayer Representative – Middle East at Bayer, stated: "The signing of this MoU represents a major step forward in our partnership with Silal. This detailed framework allows us to bring together Bayer's global expertise in sustainable agriculture with Silal's deep understanding of local agricultural challenges, advancing our mission of “Health for all, Hunger for none” while addressing critical climate challenges."
Dr. Shamal Mohammed, Head of AgriTech at Silal, emphasized: "The initiatives outlined in this MoU, particularly the establishment of the ForwardFarming model and seed development at our Innovation Oasis, will create a powerful platform for demonstrating sustainable desert farming practices. This collaboration will enhance our capability to drive agricultural innovation in the UAE."
Mr. Sami Joost, Head of Communications, Public Affairs & Open Innovation – Middle East at Bayer, added: "This expanded partnership exemplifies Bayer's commitment to open innovation in agriculture. By combining our research and development capabilities with Silal's local agricultural expertise, we are well-positioned to develop solutions that address the unique challenges of desert farming."
The collaboration between Silal and Bayer continues to represent a significant step forward in advancing agricultural innovation and sustainability in the UAE. Through this expanded partnership, both organizations aim to contribute meaningfully to the UAE's National Food Security while developing solutions that can benefit arid regions worldwide.
About Bayer
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. In line with its mission, “Health for all, Hunger for none,” the company’s products and services are designed to help people, and the planet thrive by supporting efforts to master the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. Bayer is committed to driving sustainable development and generating a positive impact with its businesses. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. The Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2023, the Group employed around 100,000 people and had sales of 47.6 billion euros. R&D expenses before special items amounted to 5.8 billion euros. For more information, go to www.bayer.com.
About Silal
Silal was established in 2020 to diversify sources of food products and stimulate manufactured and agri-food sectors. Silal’s mandates include managing procurement programs and strategic stocks of foodstuffs. The company also executes specialised knowledge transfer programs on farming techniques and devises research and development projects. For more information, go to www.silal.ae.
Contact for media inquiries:
Bayer:
Sami Joost
Head of Communications, Public Affairs & Open Innovation – Middle East
Email: sami.joost@bayer.com
For Medical Information: med-info.me@bayer.com
For Safety Reporting: pv.me@bayer.com
Silal:
Roger Jabaly, Director, Corporate Communications & Marketing – Silal L.L.C.
Email: rjabaly@silal.ae
Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer’s public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.
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[1] SILAL and Bayer Forge Pioneering Partnership to Drive Open Innovation in Agriculture