While I didn’t appreciate it at the time, 1970 marked the first Earth Day celebration. Back then, I didn’t worry about events that occurred beyond the confines of my family farm. But I knew enough to respect the land that provided the source of our livelihood and that it had to be protected regardless of the obstacles that stood in the way. Today, as the current pandemic makes clear, farmers are always on the frontline of adversity in securing a safe and sustainable food supply.
Amid the enormous disruption caused by COVID-19, farmers must also contend with the same issues they’ve always faced – inclement weather, pest outbreaks, price volatility and market uncertainty. That farmers continue to show up and persevere day in and day out, regardless of what comes their way is a true testament to their resiliency. While farmers may be only temporary stewards of their small piece of earth, their allegiance begins and ends with the land that sustains them.
Feeding the world without starving the planet is one of the greatest agricultural paradoxes of our time. The good news is agriculture has already shown a remarkable ability to do more with less. And we continue to drive innovation, both in R&D and in innovative new business models, toward a carbon-zero future for agriculture. It's in a farmer’s DNA to leave their land and our planet in better shape for future generations. In honor of Earth Day last week, it was inspiring to hear farmers on Bayer ForwardFarms share what sustainability means to them.
The growing season will not wait for the threat of coronavirus to pass, so neither can we. As farmers protect the land and produce our food, we must do everything we can to protect their livelihood. At Bayer, we’re working around the clock to manage our production and inventories so that farmers can have access to the seeds, digital tools, and crop protection products they need to do their job. And we’re doing all of this while observing strict safety practices to safeguard the health of our employees who leave their homes to conduct essential research and operations that bring essential innovation to farmers on the frontline.
We’re also finding creative ways to connect with farmers and provide ongoing support from hosting virtual meetings and producing videos to using social media channels to share agronomic know-how. In the U.S., for example, the DEKALB Asgrow team is hosting a weekly Instagram live chat while sales representatives in Brazil schedule farm visits at a time when no one else will be at the field. After their visit they connect by phone or video call with the farmer so they can address any challenges remotely. In India, grape farmers were struggling to sell their produce because of the lockdown, so our Bayer Better Life Farming team used Facebook to help connect them to bulk buyers. At the same time, we’re committed to providing best-in-class agtech for farmers and have kept moving with our field trials. Most notably, our Bayer Italia team was able to get their field trials in the ground in Lombardy – one of the regions hit hardest by coronavirus. April is planting time in that region to be able to harvest later in the year, and farmers can’t rest or wait to get their job done. I’m in full admiration of our employees around the globe who are teaming up with our customers to ensure that agriculture continues!
If there is a silver lining in this pandemic, it’s a greater appreciation of the human spirit. Families are practicing social distancing to contain the spread of COVID-19. We’ve heard stories and seen images of health care professionals putting their own well-being at risk while attending to the needs of others. I’m proud that my own company is making a remarkable commitment by donating critical medicines and equipment and providing services in the global fight against this deadly disease.
And then there are farmers – who stand at the intersection of adversity and a sustainable food supply. The pandemic is undoubtedly exposing weaknesses in our food systems and causing disruptions in supply chains that are so crucial in bringing food from the farm to our table. Reports of food waste on farms and potential meat shortages will have downstream effects that put undue strain on various industries, especially farmers. Overcoming such challenges is something in which agriculture has always excelled, and as an eternal optimist I know farmers will overcome this one. As the world responds to the coronavirus, let’s remember to give our support to these unsung heroes, who quietly take care of the land and us as they go about their work to ensure this health crisis doesn’t turn into a food crisis.
