Agribusinesses giant Bayer on Tuesday signed the Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge to help end world hunger by 2030 and committed $160 million to the cause, including more than $100 million to improve access to seeds for smallholder farmers.
The pledge was made at the U.N. Food Systems Summit of 2021 to global hunger through the partnership of businesses in the private sector and government. Bayer’s funds will assist communities in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
“This crisis affects us all and needs the support of everyone to solve it,” Rodrigo Santos, a member of the Board of Bayer AG and president of the company’s Crop Science Division, said in a release. “Our pledge further puts into practice Bayer’s commitment to help end hunger through alignment of our investments and business operations to achieve this goal.”
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Bayer’s commitment will have three avenues of assistance: supplying seeds to smallholder farmers, greater distribution of hybrid rice, and investment in research, development and technical assistance.
More than $100 million will be invested in the development and research of vegetable seeds for smallholder farmers. The company says donating vegetable seeds “to nonprofit organizations is also part of the commitment to help combat hunger and promote the increased consumption of fruits and vegetables.”
Hybrid rice also makes up a substantial portion of the company’s commitment; more than $50 million will be earmarked for Bayer’s Arize hybrid rice.
Finally, Bayer plans to partner with numerous organizations including the International Finance Corporation, Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture and Better Life Farming. Bayer said these relationships will help farmers with certifications and education on the food value chain.
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