Bayer is accelerating its seed and crop protection innovation pipeline, with the company entering a new phase of commercial launches aimed at delivering 10 blockbuster products over 10 years. The company said two major products have already entered commercialization, while several other innovations are expected to reach farmers in key agricultural markets over the coming years.
Bayer defines a blockbuster as a product capable of generating peak annual sales of at least €500 million. The company has already begun commercializing Plenexos™ insecticide and the Preceon™ Smart Corn System. Meanwhile, Vyconic™ 1 is expected to be introduced in the United States and Canada next year, while Intacta 5+™ is targeted for Brazil for the 2027-28 growing season, subject to regulatory approvals.
The digitally enabled Preceon Smart Corn System, featuring short-stature corn, is currently delivering benefits to farmers in Mexico, Italy, Spain and the United States, with commercial launch in Argentina beginning this year. Bayer said the system can improve protection against weather extremes, enable higher planting densities and provide easier access for farm machinery during the growing season. The company aims to reach 26 million acres of market penetration by 2035.
Bayer's new Plenexos insecticide, designed to control a broad spectrum of sucking pests, has been introduced in Colombia, with launches planned for Mexico, Brazil and the US. According to Bayer, farmers can use up to 75% less active ingredient compared with certain existing products. The company expects Plenexos to achieve peak sales potential of €500 million by the mid-2030s.
In soybeans, Vyconic will become the industry's first trait stack offering tolerance to five herbicides, giving growers greater flexibility in weed management. Bayer expects its soybean innovations, including Intacta 5+ and next-generation herbicide tolerance traits, to generate peak sales potential exceeding €3 billion.
The company is also developing fourth-generation corn rootworm protection and Icafolin, a new herbicide with estimated peak sales potential of €750 million.
AI and advanced breeding are playing a central role in Bayer's R&D strategy. Its AI-enabled precision breeding platform is designed to double the historical rate of genetic gain while cutting time to market threefold. Bayer is also scaling genome editing, including development of soybean varieties with improved plant architecture to reduce the risk of lodging.
In crop protection, Bayer's CropKey AI platform is supporting discovery of new modes of action. More than 15 novel modes of action are currently in the research pipeline, including a broad-spectrum soybean fungicide that has advanced to Phase II.
Bayer said its Five-Year Framework remains on track, with nearly €400 million in cost reductions achieved so far and inventory reduced by €500 million. The company is targeting more than €3.5 billion in incremental sales at constant currency by the end of the decade.