The world's population is on track to reach 9 billion by 2050. At the same time, global consumption patterns are shifting, with growing demand for protein-rich diets in many regions and greater transparency in developed markets.

• Now more than ever, the world is asking U.S. farmers to produce more while using fewer resources.

The positive news: Innovation combined with technology can help make this possible for U.S. farmers.

• Technology can also create new revenue opportunities and value streams, helping farmers connect more deeply with the value chains that rely on them. Bayer is helping drive that connection.

The challenge: Across growing seasons, farmers in Iowa and beyond are facing increased hurdles in the form of extreme weather and declining natural resources, in addition to pests and diseases.

• The outlook: By 2050, up to 90% of global soils could be degraded, and arable land per capita is projected to drop by 20%.

Why it's important: There are nearly 1.9 million farms in the United States with many serving as the backbone of rural communities. Maintaining agriculture's resiliency can help to ensure that rural communities are more stable for the future, aiding in:

• Stronger employment.
• More viable local businesses.
• Better-supported essential services.

The solution: Stakeholders across agriculture are working to counteract the hurdles facing the industry and help farmers reach their goals.

• The industry must look to chemistry, biology and data science to solve these problems and set American farmers up for future success.

The positive news: For decades, Bayer has brought together the brightest minds in modern agriculture.

• These STEM professionals include agronomists, data scientists, molecular biologists, plant breeders and more.

How it's done: These experts are focused on regenerative agriculture as a sustainable and commercially viable option.

💭 "The appeal of regenerative farming is that it aims to first improve soil health, thereby helping increase yields and enabling farmers to benefit economically," says Brian Naber, president of Bayer Crop Science North America and Australia/New Zealand Region.

• "Farmers know that this can only be achieved by openly embracing science and technology."

Plus: Bayer's other agricultural innovations include:

• Development of leading seeds and traits.
• Most innovative crop protection products.
• Advanced digital farming technologies.

Some examples: Bayer is an innovation partner committed to delivering new tools and solutions for farmers. Here are three recent initiatives changing the game when it comes to modern agriculture.

🌽 The PRECEON™ Smart Corn System: With the U.S. relying on farmers to produce as much corn as possible, tall crops like corn are at higher risk of being destroyed due to severe weather.

• To help farmers protect their yields, Bayer designed the seeds to grow shorter, sturdier stalks.

• This system enables farmers to contend with more frequent and severe weather, while providing in-season access due to shorter hybrids that allow them to more precisely and efficiently apply inputs such as fertilizer and crop protection products to their crop.

🌱 The launch of newgold® seed: newgold® seed is the first multi-crop seed brand developed specifically for low-carbon intensity crops, designed to help farmers participate directly in the fast-growing biofuels market while enhancing opportunities for farm profitability.

• Built under Bayer's Biofuel Crops by Bayer platform, newgold® seed represents a shift from treating biofuels purely as a downstream opportunity toward building a scalable agricultural system that connects farmers, fuel producers and markets.

🧑‍🌾 CropKey™, a new advancement in crop protection: Weeds, diseases and pests threaten crop health and yields worldwide, causing losses of up to 30%, equaling half a billion tons of food annually — enough to feed more than 2 billion people.

• An AI-powered discovery platform, CropKey™ accelerates identification and development of new crop protection solutions by precisely targeting pest and weed vulnerabilities at the molecular level.

The takeaway: Today's agricultural challenges must be solved through scientific innovations. The future of American farming depends on it.

• Next steps: Science Delivers, a nationwide initiative from Bayer, celebrates and gives Americans a glimpse into scientific milestones — including in agriculture — that have transformed the way we live, work and care for ourselves and our planet.

Explore Bayer's commitment to science in agriculture and beyond.