Bayer CropScience CEO opens new rice development center in Thailand

Rice seed production in Asia to be expanded substantially by 2017

13-Nov-2008 - Thailand

Bayer CropScience is aiming to help make a “second green revolution” possible in Asia by developing new, high-yielding varieties of rice. The company plans to expand substantially the breeding and marketing of commercial rice seed in the region, with the aim of increasing the production volume eightfold by 2017.

“Furthermore, we want to intensify our research and development activities in Asia and bring a number of new rice varieties with improved plant traits to market,” explained Professor Friedrich Berschauer, Chairman of the Board of Management of Bayer CropScience AG, at the inauguration of the company’s new rice development center in Suphanburi, Thailand. The launch of first commercial seed varieties to the Thai market is planned for 2011.

The new development center, situated at the heart of Suphanburi, a rice growing region north of Bangkok, rounds out the company’s involvement in rice in the Asia Pacific region. Bayer CropScience opened a rice research laboratory in Singapore in June this year.

According to the company, Bayer CropScience has extensive expertise in the field of classical breeding and development of hybrid rice. The company markets conventional hybrid rice varieties under the Arize® brand in seven countries which together represent over half of the world’s rice cultivation area. They include major rice producers such as India, Indonesia and Brazil. High-quality Arize® seed combines excellent genetic purity and germination capacity with a yield potential that is at least 20 percent above that of classic rice varieties.

https://www.bionity.com/en/news/89593/bayer-cropscience-ceo-opens-new-rice-development-center-in-thailand.html