During a special meet-up at the PMA Fresh Summit in Anaheim today (18 October), leading crop protection seeds specialist Bayer CropScience announced the launch of the Produce Innovation Award.
The award is designed to recognise a grower whose innovative practices enhance the role of produce in creating better lives through improved yield or quality, greater availability or increased demand for fruit and vegetables, tree nuts and potatoes, the group revealed.
'The award is a US$10,000 grant that can be utilised to advance ideas, the application of technology, or even bringing produce to the local community more effectively,' explained Steve Olson, product manager at Bayer CropScience, at the meeting. 'It offers the first opportunity for a grower to really tie in with Bayer's mission statement of 'Science For A Better Life'. Applicants could focus on a product that may be more sustainable, may be growing yields, increasing quality - anything that the grower may have found and applied to their practices.'
Applications can be made online from 20 October to 5 January 2015, with the winner receiving an all-expenses paid trip to Bayer's tenth Ag Issues Forum on 24-25 February in Phoenix, Arizona, US$10,000 in grant money to continue the development of their innovations, and a US$2,000 gift card to the Apple Store to enhance their efforts in business technology.
Bayer CropScience is proud to honour a grower with this award demonstrating the power of 'Science For A Better Life',' noted Rob Schrick, horticulture leader at Bayer CropScience, in a statement. 'Science For A Better Life' is our mission at Bayer, and we're excited to to spotlight an innovator that deploys methods in the field, across their operationsor within the supply chain to enhance the positive contribution of produce on individual live or society overall.'
'There is currently a great deal of discussion surrounding the nation's health, and there are many challenges regarding nutritionand produce availability among economically and culturally diverse communities,' he added. 'One thing is for certain: fruits and vegetables, including potatoes and tree nuts, provide crucial nutrients to positively impact health and enhance lives.'
