Bayer arm agrees research initiative with the CNRRI

Bayer’s CropScience division has announced an agreement with the China National Rice Research Institute (CNRRI) for trait development and breeding of the crop.

The organisations will collaborate on the research and development of the rice plant as part of an existing partnership between Bayer CropScience and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Studies.

This earlier collaboration also encompasses research and dialogue into cotton, canola and soybeans.

“By introducing high-yielding hybrids, we intend to make a contribution to securing the world’s food supply in the 21st century,” explained chairman of the board of management of Bayer CropScience Professor Friedrich Berschauer.

Bayer CropScience, which has its UK headquarters in Cambridge, had annual sales reaching 6.4 billion euros (5.5 billion pounds) in 2008 and operates primarily in the fields of non-agricultural pest control, seeds, crop protection and plant biotechnology.