Bayer has fostered its alliance with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

The health care, crop science and high-performance materials company has become the first private-sector firm to partner UNEP in environmental projects for young people.

Although Bayer and UNEP have worked together on projects in the Asia-Pacific region for many years they have now signed a long-term co-operation agreement that serves as a basis for them to step up current projects, transfer successful initiatives to other countries and develop ideas for new projects in the field of youth and the environment.

At the heart of the partnership is the Young Environmental Envoy Programme, which in 2004 took young people from 12 countries and three continents to visit Bayer to learn about sustainable development and various methods of environmental protection. Participants are expected to pass on the knowledge they gain when they return to their home countries.

Other activities to be built up over the next few years include a range of initiatives for children and students with a focus on the Asia-Pacific Region, Latin America and Central Eastern Europe.

The signing of the UNEP agreement coincided with the release of Bayer's 2004 Sustainable Development Report, which, along with more information about Bayer's social commitment and sustainable development profile, can be found at: http://www.sd.bayer.com