LEVERKUSEN, GER – Bayer has announced a new five-year partnership, including a $10 million upfront investment in Trendlines, an Israeli venture capital firm, to establish the Bayer Trendlines Ag Innovation Fund.

Bayer aims to modernize the agricultural industry with innovations that can increase productivity, boost food supply, and produce sufficient animal feed, fiber, and renewable raw materials.

"The agricultural market is ripe for groundbreaking innovation and Trendlines, with its focus on developing startups and new technologies beyond a one-time investment, shares our commitment to supporting productive and sustainable agriculture," said Adrian Percy, Head of Research & Development at Bayer’s division Crop Science, in a press release.

Bayer said the new fund, which is part of its flexible partnership and will be managed by Trendline, couples its extensive experience in agricultural science, innovation, and regulatory affairs with Trendlines’ specialization in cutting-edge ag tech investments.

"We are thrilled at the establishment of the Fund and the future partnership with Bayer. It provides our companies with the professional and financial backing that they need for development,” remarked Dr. Nitza Kardish, CEO of Trendlines Agtech.

Bayer cited extreme climatic conditions, weed resistance, pest pressure, and sustainability as some of the challenges facing agriculture today. Through the Ag Innovation Fund, Bayer and Trendlines hope to mitigate these problems by research and development in improved crop traits, seed technology, seed breeding, agrochemicals, and biologicals.

Bayer Trendlines