In conjunction with the Almond Conference in Sacramento, the Western Pacific NAMA Chapter held a lunch reception and site tour at Bayer’s West Sacramento research site on Wednesday, December 6,  2017, organized by membership chairperson, Sandy Fiack. The chapter winners of the “Best of NAMA” awards for this year were announced and recipients had the honor of describing their most esteemed project or entry. Congratulatory pictures were taken of winners receiving a plaque with President, Greg Hains. All of the commemorative plaques have been mailed to winners from the National NAMA office and should be arriving soon!

The host for the day was Kelly O’Halloran, who provided an overview of Bayer’s Biologics and Vegetable Seeds research facility. The group learned that the site employs about 195 folks with roughly 52% of them millennials and 25% of them with degrees from UC Davis, located 12 miles away. The company has a community outreach focus, with an emphasis on encouraging students to explore science. Bayer’s mission is centered on the challenges facing our world’s increasing food demand and customers’ needs by developing seeds and traits, biologicals, chemicals and services for growers.

Dr. Heemanshu Patel walked attendees through much of the 175,000 foot lab and research facility explaining in more detail the value of beneficial microbes and the fermentation process as related to plant nutrient uptake and soil health. The group also touched on the vegetable seed market where tomatoes reflect 27% of their market, followed by peppers, cucumbers, onions, watermelons, melons and carrots. Their research and development strategy is focused on integrated breeding for specific desirable traits.

2018 will be a year of change, with the anticipated acquisition of Monsanto. The Bayer team remains optimistic and convinced that the new company will create a global leader in sustainable agriculture as they work to shape the future of farming.

Pictured here in no particular order are Sarah Baker and Allison Chen, Archer Malmo; Marcie Rhind, Compass Minerals; Callie Borror, California Cattlewomen; Sandy Fiack, Zenith Agribusiness Solutions; Renee Smith and Bruce Freeby, Virtus Nutrition; Greg Hains, Capitol Press; Carrie Isaacson, broadhead.; Maureen Nassie, Netafim USA; and Kelly O’Halloran and Dr. Heemanshu Patel, BayerCrop Science.