Bayer : launches new Digital Farming brand xarvio™

Monheim/Hanover, November 9, 2017- Bayer will market its Digital Farming solutions under the brand xarvio™. The company will launch the brand at this year'sAgritechnica, the leading trade fair for agricultural machinery with 2,900 exhibitors from 52 countries.

'Our objective is to improve farming - for the farmers and for the environment,' said Tobias Menne, global head of Digital Farming at Bayer. 'xarvio technololgies can support farmers all around our planet to optimize the amount of crop protection they need, thus to produce more efficiently and to increase profits while reducing the impact farming has on the environment.'

At the G49 trade fair booth in Hall 15 at theAgritechnica, visitors can learn about Bayer's innovative solutions such as theField Managerand theScouting Appmarketed by Bayer under the new xarvio brand. Agritechnica will take place from November 12 to 18 at Hanover Fairgrounds in Hanover, Germany.

Field Manager and Scouting App

xarvio solutions open farmers the opportunity to optimize the potential of their individual fields and field zones. Bayer'sField Manager, for instance, will provide farmers with instant access to field-specific actionable strategies for the most efficiant application of crop protection products. 'With the Field Manager, which uses imaging and sensor technology from e.g. satellites, farmers always have the status of their fields at hand, receive field specific crop protection timing and can download field-zone specific variable application maps,' said Andree-Georg Girg, Head of Commercialisation Digital Farming and Managing Director of Digital Farming GmbH at Bayer. 'As a result, the application of agricultural inputs can be optimized so that the perfect amount is used exactly when and where it is needed and harvests will be produced more efficiently.'

The new xarvioScouting Appmakes it easy to detect and identify crop diseases, insects, the nitrogen status and other leave damages - only take a picture and you get the analysis. Farmers also profit from the data gathered by their neighbours: They see which diseases are emerging and see the insect pressure around them. The app is now available in an iOS as well as an Android version and accessible through the appstores.

Sustainability through digital technologies

Digital Farming paves the way for a new agricultural revolution that makes farming quicker, more precise, efficient and sustainable. Already today, most new farm machinery is equipped with precision agriculture features. New tools help farmers optimize inputs such as fertilizer and crop protection agents with corresponding improvements in yields and quality.

Digital Farming solutions also help meet society's rising requirements in terms of transparency and sustainability. Bayer is therefore closely collaborating with highly competent partners such asBoschandFaunaPhotonics, universities, start-up companies and nonprofit organizations. 'By donating licenses to use proprietary data to organizations such asQuantified Planet, we are contributing to research into biodiversity for the benefit of both agriculture and society - and we are open for further partnerships,' Menne added.

Digital Farming products successfully rolled out in more than 60 countries

Currently, Bayer provides digital solutions in more than 60 countries and is aiming to achieve rapid further expansion. The new technologies have huge potential not only in countries such as Canada, the United States, Brazil, Germany, France, Ukraine and Russia, but also for smallholder farmers in developing countries. Enabling smallholder farmers to reach their farming potential is key to increase agricultural productivity in a sustainable manner and to improve the lives of their families and communities.

Enabling targeted and transparent data use

The exchange of data between farmers and technology providers like Bayer is of great importance. Farmers should be informed and agree to how the data they share is used and accessed. Especially the collection, use and storage of data must be clear and transparent. 'Data policies, practices, and engagements with farmers should be carried out in an open and transparent manner and consistent with agreed upon terms,' Menne said. 'We believe the best approach would be one in which partners agree on rules, such as through well-defined service agreements or a general code of conduct.'

Data security is key

The exchange of data must happen in a secure way. 'Security is at the top of our mind, and we take all necessary steps in order to protect data,' Menne said. Bayer uses technical and organizational security precautions to protect data from manipulation, loss, destruction or access by unauthorized persons. Any personal data that is provided to us will be encrypted, when in transit between systems, in order to prevent possible misuse by third parties. 'As a leading innovation company and technology provider in the agrilcultural space we have lots to share but also much to learn from the farming community,' Menne pointed out. 'We are eager to learn and engage in the ongoing discussion about the responsible use of data in modern agriculture.'

Bayer: Science For A Better Life
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the Life Science fields of health care and agriculture. Its products and services are designed to benefit people and improve their quality of life. At the same time, the Group aims to create value through innovation, growth and high earning power. Bayer is committed to the principles of sustainable development and to its social and ethical responsibilities as a corporate citizen. In fiscal 2016, the Group employed around 99,600 people and had sales of EUR 34.9 billion. Capital expenditures amounted to EUR 2.2 billion, R&D expenses to EUR 4.4 billion. For more information, go towww.bayer.com.

Note to editors:

For more information about Bayer Digital Farming and xarbio please visithttps://www.xarvio.com/andhttp://www.digitalfarming.bayer.com/.

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Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer's public reports which are available on the Bayer website atwww.bayer.com.The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.