Bayer CropScience plans to invest EUR 15 million in Nunhems’ Parma site in the U.S.

Monheim / Parma – Bayer CropScience´s vegetable seed business Nunhems plans to invest EUR 15 million in the expansion of its U.S. facilities in Parma, Idaho. “This investment lays the foundation for the sustainable growth of our vegetable seed business in the U.S. and worldwide,” commented Dr. Joachim Schneider, Head of the BioScience Business Unit at Bayer CropScience on the occasion of the groundbreaking ceremony at the Parma site. ”The objective of the expansion of our seed production in the U.S. is to efficiently meet the needs of our customers in the future.”

The site in Parma, Idaho was founded in the mid 70s and became part of Nunhems with the acquisition of Sunseeds in 1997. It is responsible for the processing, packaging and storage of important vegetable hybrid seed crops like carrots and onions. This includes varieties with good yields, disease resistance as well as excellent quality, nutrition and appearance. Today, the Parma facility processes more than 80 percent of the global carrot and onion seeds produced by Nunhems. From here, these seeds are shipped to customers in the U.S. and worldwide.

“In addition to the recent purchase of 11 hectares adjacent to the Parma facility, we plan to build new seed processing and storage facilities,” added Douwe Zijp, Chief Executive Officer of Nunhems. “Furthermore, we will implement technical upgrades in equipment as well as other improvements. During this process we will do everything possible to minimize any disruption in our day to day activities.” The site expansion will also lead to the extension of administrative functions and other departments including Logistics, Customer Service, Marketing & Sales and Quality Assurance.

The Parma site has 150 full time employees and will be close to 25 hectares. Nationwide, Nunhems has approximately 260 employees. Other U.S. locations include seed production locations in all western states as well as research facilities in Brooks (Oregon) and Bakersfield, Lodi, Davis and Salinas (California).

Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, nutrition and high-tech materials. Bayer CropScience AG, a subsidiary of Bayer AG with annual sales of about EUR 5.8 billion (2007), is one of the world’s leading innovative crop science companies in the areas of crop protection, non-agricultural pest control, seeds and plant biotechnology. The company offers an outstanding range of products and extensive service backup for modern, sustainable agriculture and for non-agricultural applications. Bayer CropScience has a global workforce of about 17,800 and is represented in more than 120 countries. This and further news is available at: www.newsroom.bayercropscience.com

The company’s vegetable seed business operates under the name of Nunhems. Nunhems is the global specialist in vegetable seeds and sharing smart products, concepts and expertise with the professional horticultural production industry and supply chain. Its portfolio includes leading varieties and brands in crops such as leek, onion, carrot, melon, cucumber, tomato, watermelon, lettuce, pepper and chicory witloof. With annual sales of EUR 208 million in 2007, Nunhems is among the world´s four leading vegetable seed companies with an extensive range of 28 species and some 2,500 varieties. With more than 1,300 people Nunhems is present in all major vegetable production areas in the world.


Find more information at www.bayercropscience.com and www.nunhems.com.


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