Beyond Products: Bayer’s Strategy for Scaling Biologicals Through Integrated Systems

An Interview with Christoph Breitenströter, Head of Biologicals EMEA at Bayer

Christoph Breitenströter serves as the Head of Biologicals EMEA at Bayer, where he leads the strategic direction and commercial execution for the company’s biological portfolio. With an 18-year tenure at Bayer, Breitenströter emphasizes that biologicals are not merely an emerging trend, but a critical, evolving component of the modern grower’s toolbox.

Biologicals Within the Integrated Portfolio

Breitenströter notes that Bayer’s approach is defined by multi-disciplinary integration. He argues that biologicals should not exist in isolation, but rather function seamlessly alongside chemical and digital solutions within a holistic, season-long strategy.

• Holistic Value: Rather than simply stacking products, value is derived from how different technologies interact and strengthen field outcomes.
• Operational Simplicity: Growers require intuitive and flexible solutions that avoid adding complexity or extra decision-making workloads during the season.
• Proven Utility: Solutions like nutrition-enhancing biologicals (e.g., Yoalo or B-360) are highly compatible with existing technologies, providing new modes of action and functions such as stress tolerance and improved nutrient efficiency.

The Partner Ecosystem

Recognizing the unique character of the biologicals sector—where innovation frequently originates from start-ups and university spin-outs—Bayer utilizes a “partner ecosystem” model.

According to Breitenströter, the complementarity is clear: innovators bring deep scientific expertise, while Bayer provides the regulatory guidance, development engine, and global market access required to take technologies to scale. This collaborative approach has already demonstrated success in projects like the crop expansion for the pheromone-based control solution, VYNYTY.

Overcoming Barriers to Adoption

The primary barrier to biologicals is a lack of grower trust. Breitenströter identifies several ways to overcome this:

• Setting Expectations: Clearly communicating what biologicals can and cannot do.
• Reliable Performance: Demonstrating consistent, field-tested outcomes rather than just peak-performance benchmarks.
• Customer-Centric Design: Engaging growers early in the development process to ensure solutions address real-world challenges rather than assumptions.

© 2026 BioAg World Digest | Expert Leadership Series