How important are GM crops to Bayer?
GM crops, whilst only responsible for a small percentage of Bayer CropScience’s current sales, are certainly key to its future plans. One of the main reasons for Bayer’s purchase of Aventis CropScience was the possiblity of buying an established GM crops business with products both on the market and close to commercialisation, and its research and development capabilities. However, at present (and in the short to medium term), the vast majority of its income comes from sales of agrochemicals. Of all the companies involved with GM crops, Bayer CropScience has most to lose should the commercialisation of first generation GM crops fail in the UK and the EU. It (and its precursor companies) have invested a lot of time and money in GM crops in the UK and their commercial failure would be a serious blow for the company. However, such a failure would not neccesarily mark the end of the company, or its involvement in GM crops. Bayer CropScience can rely on its agrochemical products as well as
