Bayer and Janssen team up to protect fresh produce for rotting after harvest

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Bayer CropScience and Janssen Pharmaceutica NV have signed a multi-year research agreement to develop new post-harvest treatments to protect fruit and vegetable produce against fungal diseases.

Bayer CropScience will make active ingredients from its current fungicide portfolio available for testing by Janssen’s Preservation and Material Protection (PMP) division, which has long-standing expertise in post-harvest disease control and already supplies products for the control of post-harvest moulds and rots.

With the support of Bayer CropScience, Janssen aims to develop improved treatments for harvested produce, optimising the quality of the fruits and vegetables at the point of sale. Financial terms were not disclosed.

A great deal of fresh produce is wasted before it can be consumed due to decay. “The slightest damage to fruits during harvest, transport and storage provides an opportunity for fungal attack,” said Geoffroy de Chabot, Sales and Marketing Manager at Janssen PMP. “So fruit has to be protected immediately using suitable methods to make sure that rots don’t develop and food quality is maintained.”

The role of post-harvest protection in the food chain is often underestimated. “Innovative and safe solutions are vital to protect healthy fruits and vegetables in view of the ever-increasing demand for these important food commodities all year round,” said Klaus Kirsch, Product Manager Fungicides at Bayer CropScience.