by Dirk Backhaus, Head of Product Supply and member of the Crop Science Executive Leadership Team at Bayer Crop Science
Published 06-29-21
Submitted by Bayer
Originally published on LinkedIn
The gradual return to “normal life” following the pandemic has reminded me of some simple joys – going on excursions with my family, meeting up with friends for a nice dinner…and shopping for fresh ingredients.
While a trip to the grocery store can feel like a hassle for some, I personally enjoy buying fresh fish, meat, cheese and seasonal fruits & vegetables at local shops around my neighborhood. There's something comforting and reassuring about the ability to hold, see and select your food – our family also makes use of the convenience of online "order-and-deliver" for some other products.
For many, the grocery shopping experience is a lengthier journey that begins well before they walk through the door. Consumers today are more interested than ever in knowing where their food comes from, how it is grown and what happens to it before it reaches the retail shelf. As a result, the demand for safe, affordable, and sustainable food has never been more prevalent in society.
Today's observance of World Food Safety Day has me thinking more about the role Bayer Crop Science and our Product Supply organization can play in upholding a safer and healthier food supply chain.
Food safety is a shared responsibility between growers, governments, producers, and consumers. And as an organization that supports growers in producing safe and healthy food, we maintain a commitment to ensure that the products we put on the market and deliver to them are tested and validated to be safe.
As employees and consumers, we want to know that what we're putting in our shopping carts won't harm our families or our planet. Given our extended visibility into the food production chain and engagement with growers, we have a responsibility to leverage our influence to drive behavioral change before, during and after the delivery of our products.
Considering the WHO and FAO theme of "Safe Food Today for a Healthy Tomorrow" for this year's World Food Safety Day, it is a good opportunity to reiterate how our Product Supply team is going the extra mile to help ensure the production and consumption of safe food.
As a leading agriculture company, Bayer is proud to support healthy nutrition for all by helping to ensure consumers have access to safe, high quality and affordable food. On World Food Safety Day, we're honored to reaffirm our commitment to leveraging innovative and responsible practices across our Product Supply function to drive a more productive and responsible food chain. In doing so, we can move closer to a world where consumers can grocery shop with confidence and peace of mind.
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 2015, the Group employed around 117,000 people and had sales of EUR 46.3 billion. Capital expenditures amounted to EUR 2.6 billion, R&D expenses to EUR 4.3billion. These figures include those for the high-tech polymers business, which was floated on the stock market as an independent company named Covestro on October 6, 2015. For more information, go to www.bayer.com.
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