Bayer CropScience has celebrated the grand opening of its new $17 million, state-of-the-art, Beaver Crossing Breeding and Trait Development Station.  Bayer hopes the research and development activities of this center will deliver breakthrough wheat and soybean varieties.

The center will be focusing on parent discovery and hybrid wheat breeding, with plans to research new wheat varieties designed to help growers face key crop challenges.  Other innovations include breeding for yield enhancement, drought tolerance, efficient nitrogen use, and higher quality of wheat.  In addition there will be soybean activities to serve farmers in the area.

The Beaver Crossing Breeding and Trait Development Station, situated on 400 acres of farmland, is a cornerstone in Bayer’s commitment to invest more than $1 billion in wheat research and development over 10 years. The facility brings together approximately 25 of today’s brightest minds in agriculture and life sciences to develop wheat and soybean varieties to meet the specific needs of Midwestern growers and others worldwide. The facility, which began construction in September 2013 and was completed in November 2014, includes 53,000 square feet of new office space, research facilities, a greenhouse and an equipment building.

“In everything we do at Bayer CropScience, we seek to leave a better world by improving outcomes for our growers and using ‘Science For A Better Life’ in all the communities we serve,” said Jim Blome, President and CEO of Bayer CropScience LP. “Beaver Crossing will help us achieve this goal through improving wheat and soybean crops, advancing our agricultural thought leadership and helping to develop future generations of agricultural innovators.”