Innovation rooted in customer insights

Photo courtesy of Bayer

It is an honor to partner with Greenhouse Management and Nursery Management in supporting this “State of the Market” special report, as it is an important time for production ornamentals.

At Bayer, I help lead development of new solutions across the North American Environmental Science Division. In this role, I am fortunate to manage a team of dedicated and highly skilled scientists who conduct the extensive work necessary to ensure optimal performance for each innovation we introduce to greenhouse and nursery growers, as well as our many customers across Environmental Science.

We do this with one guiding principle: innovation without customer insight is not innovation. The Bayer team spends significant time working with customers, understanding key challenges and identifying what solutions in our pipeline are best positioned to drive value. We see three predominant themes in production ornamentals that are driving innovation: labor, stewardship and emerging pests.

LABOR

Qualified labor is a fundamental challenge for the growth of the industry, making efficiency and profitability a critical focus. Bayer understands this challenge and supports growers by giving them back precious time in their days – our contribution to a better life for them. For years, growers have trusted Marengo^® as the longest-lasting preemergence weed control on the market. With a residual of up to eight months, Marengo is a key tool for nursery growers, helping to eliminate repeat applications, postemergence applications, hand-weeding and other peripheral costs that hurt profitability.

STEWARDSHIP

Growers have always been dedicated environmental stewards, so themes like pollinator safety, compatibility with beneficials and Integrated Pest Management have become increasingly more prevalent. Meanwhile, big-box retailers and others have demanded neonicotinoid alternatives in the care and production of ornamental plants. Bayer introduced Altus® to the ornamentals market in 2017, and since then, greenhouse growers have noted its efficacy on piercing-sucking pests and its compatibility with honey bees, bumble bees and many beneficial insects. Developments like Altus as well as new biological solutions will continue to be a key focus for future innovation.

EMERGING PESTS

Insects, weeds and diseases continue to evolve – whether that means feeding on new plants, entering a new region or developing resistant populations. And growers will constantly need new solutions to manage these new challenges. Botrytis, for example, is widely considered to be the costliest disease in greenhouse management due to fungicide resistance. Last year, Bayer introduced Broadform® – an excellent rotational tool for control of Botrytis, leaf spot and other key foliar diseases. By working closely with customers, university researchers and our internal cohort of developmental scientists, we can continue to identify these needs and deliver new solutions for emerging pests.

Thank you, Greenhouse Management and Nursery Management, for sharing this important report with the countless growers who have spent their careers strengthening the industry and growing beautiful, healthy plants. Here’s to another incredible year!

Sincerely,

Richard Rees
Head of Environmental Science Field Solutions, North America, Bayer

ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW LABEL INSTRUCTIONS
Bayer Environmental Science, a Division of Bayer CropScience LP, 5000 CentreGreen Way, Suite 400, Cary, NC 27513. For additional product information, call toll-free 1-800-331-2867. environmentalscience.bayer.us. Not all products are registered in all states. Bayer, the Bayer Cross, Altus, Marengo and Broadform are registered trademarks of Bayer. © 2019 Bayer CropScience LP. ES-319-ALT-21-A-R1