Global Youth Ag-Summit will take place in Australia in 2015

Bayer CropScience and Future Farmers Network (FFN) Australia are hosting the Global Youth Ag-Summit / Essay applications now being accepted online through January 30, 2015 on www.youthagsummit.com

Every day the world’s population increases by 233,000 people, growing from 7.2 billion people today to more than 9 billion by 2050, according to estimates by the United Nations. The crucial question is: How can we feed these people? To develop ideas and support global action needed to solve this challenge, visionary thinking, long-term perspectives and creativity are imperatives. This is why Bayer CropScience together with the agricultural youth organization Future Farmers Network are inviting around 100 young thought leaders from around the world to apply for the second Global Youth Ag-Summit on August 24th to 28th, 2015 in Canberra, Australia.

In Canberra, this group of young delegates from around the world will share, discuss, and develop ideas to create a common vision. Asia Pacific hosts a huge variety of farming and eating habits. Australia as the earth’s driest populated continent is a special place to signalize the need for sustainable agricultural practices.

Under the theme “Feeding a Hungry Planet”, young people aged 18-25 can submit an essay outlining their position and ideas on the underlying causes of food security and the effect it can have on a growing population. The ability to demonstrate original ideas and passion to help shape the future will be the key selection criteria for the Youth Ag-Summit. Essay applications are now being accepted online through January 30, 2015. Find more information about the application process and conference on the website www.youthagsummit.com.

The Youth Ag-Summit forms part of the new Agricultural Education Program by Bayer CropScience which takes a holistic approach. “At Bayer CropScience, we believe in engaging in a constructive, forward-looking dialogue about the challenges and opportunities of farming. We commit to help the next generation of young thought leaders learn and grow themselves, as we strive to drive a sustainable intensification of agriculture,” stressed Steffen Kurzawa, Global Head of Communications of Bayer CropScience.

Bayer CropScience is committed to engaging tomorrow’s thought leaders – with initiatives like the 2015 Youth Ag-Summit, agricultural scholarships and hands-on learning programs at our labs and farms. Young people are encouraged to learn more about sustainable agriculture and food supply whereby the vital role of science and innovation is highlighted.

Discover more about the Agricultural Education Program on the website: http://www.ag-education.bayer.com

About Future Farmers Network
Future Farmers Network (FFN) is Australia’s only national youth agricultural network that connects and supports young Australians involved in rural industries. Operating since 2002, FFN connects youth involved in all facets of agriculture and provides members with access to the latest news, events, scholarships, awards and information from across all aspects of the Australian agricultural sector. To learn more about FFN visit: http://www.futurefarmers.com.au/

About Bayer CropScience
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, agriculture and high-tech materials. Bayer CropScience, the subgroup of Bayer AG responsible for the agricultural business, has annual sales of EUR 8,819 million (2013) and is one of the world’s leading innovative crop science companies in the areas of seeds, crop protection and non-agricultural pest control. The company offers an outstanding range of products including high value seeds, innovative crop protection solutions based on chemical and biological modes of action as well as an extensive service backup for modern, sustainable agriculture. In the area of non-agricultural applications, Bayer CropScience has a broad portfolio of products and services to control pests from home and garden to forestry applications. The company has a global workforce of 22,400 and is represented in more than 120 countries. This and further news is available at: www.press.bayercropscience.com.

Find more information at www.bayercropscience.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
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