AgroPages-Bayer CropScience announces seed business acquisition in Brazil‏-Agricultural news

Bayer CropScience announced on Thursday (03.19) the acquisition of the seed business unit of CCGL (Central Gaúcha Cooperative), which is from the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. The financial details of the transaction were not unveiled, but the deal was already approved by Brazil's anti-trust agency, the Administrative Council of Economic Protection (Cade).

The business unit acquired by Bayer CropScience is composed by lines and commercial cultivars of wheat and soybeans adapted to diverse regions in Brazil. The acquisition is aligned with the strategic direction of the company globally: increasing investments and market share on seeds and strategic crops.

"We are very satisfied with this agreement. The deal will enable Bayer CropScience to expand even more its research and development work to meet the demands of Brazilian farmers. This important acquisition will bring us an access to a high quality germplasm bank for the development of varieties and traits," highlights Eduardo Mazzieri, business director at Bayer CropScience Brasil.

This acquisition represents another step of Bayer CropScience, following the direction of consolidating a solid platform in seeds, especially in soybeans. Over last four years, the company has announced several acquisitions in Latin America, including Melhoramento Agropastoril, Wehrtec, SoyTech, CVR (Brazil), FN Semillas S.A. (Argentina), and Granar S.A. (Paraguay).

"Considering our current portfolio and the seed varieties that we are developing and acquiring, we are now in a position to provide to Brazilian soybean growers the integrated solutions that include seeds, agrochemicals and services, helping farmers to produce better and more," affirms Eduardo Estrada, Bayer Crop Science president for Brazil and Latin America.

CCGL is one of the most traditional agricultural cooperatives in the country and acts significantly in the segments of dairy, logistics and technology aimed to research, development and improvement of forage seeds of soybeans and wheat, as well as management technology. Headquartered in Rio Grande do Sul, the cooperative has created a very recognized germplasm seed bank with seeds adapted to Brazilian crop conditions.