Next generation of agricultural talent invited to 'plant their path' at the 2019 Youth Ag Summit in Brazil

• 100 young agricultural enthusiasts aged 18-25 will be chosen to attend the summit in Brasília, Brazil in November 2019.
• Bayer in Canada committing four delegates, including two from 4-H Canada
• Bayer will collaborate with Nuffield Brazil and AIESEC Brazil for the 2019 Youth Ag Summit.
• Applications are now open until January 10, 2019

CALGARY, Sept. 25, 2018 /CNW/ - Bayer is excited to announce that applications for the fourth edition of the Youth AgVocate Summit are now open. Organized in collaboration with youth-focused organizations Nuffield Brazil and AIESEC Brazil, the next Youth Ag Summit will take place from 4-6 November, 2019, in Brasília, Brazil. Brasília, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to Brazil's federal government as well as over 120 foreign embassies. It is an ideal location to welcome the next crop of global 'agvocates' – advocates for agriculture – who will shape the future of food.

The Youth Ag Summit brings together 100 young talents aged 18 to 25 from across the globe to develop solutions and answers to one of society's most challenging questions: how to feed a hungry planet in a more sustainable manner.

Canada has once again committed to send four young leaders to represent Canada – two of which will be current members or alumni of 4-H Canada. This will add to the total of 72 Canadians who have contributed to the global conference since its inception in 2013 in Calgary, Alberta.

"There has never been a more important time for innovation in agriculture as we take on the challenge of nourishing a growing population while, at the same time, preserving our natural resources," notes Liam Condon, member of the Board of Management of Bayer AG and President of the Crop Science Division. "As the leaders of tomorrow, young people with a personal passion to shape the future of agriculture need to be at the forefront of these efforts."

“The Youth Ag Summit has been an incredible opportunity for 4-H members to meet other young people from around the world, all with a shared passion for agriculture and its future,” says Shannon Benner, 4-H Canada CEO. “Thanks to our Science and Technology Pillar partner Bayer Crop Science, we have been able to send 4-H members in the past and are excited by the news two more members will have the opportunity to add their voice to solving the issues that will face the next generation.”

"The Youth Ag Summit allowed me to work together with like-minded peers on a project to tackle food insecurity in the context of gender equality," says Cassandra Hayward, an undergraduate student in sustainable development from Dartmouth, N.S. who represented Canada at the 2017 Summit. "Together, we created AgriKUA, a non-profit organization aiming to provide post-secondary female students in Kenya with agricultural, business and legal knowledge through an online platform. Our goal is to cultivate a group of female mentors and leaders who can drive a sustainable cycle of local empowerment within their own communities."

To apply for the 2019 Summit, eligible candidates (young people aged 18 to 25 with a passion for advocating for food and agriculture) are invited to submit a video pitch sharing their idea to tackle food insecurity in the context of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Applicants are encouraged to think about how they can "plant a path" for youth to be change-makers in implementing the SDGs, and make their own individual impact on food security in ways both big and small. Full application guidelines and information can be found on the Youth Ag Summit website at www.YouthAgSummit.com.

For the 100 chosen delegates, the Youth Ag Summit will function as an idea incubator: helping delegates turn their ideas into reality, and equipping them with the skills needed to realize their projects. Throughout the Summit, delegates will also hear from expert speakers and participate in tours to learn more about the agricultural industry.

About the Youth Ag Summit
The Youth Ag Summit aims to inspire and foster young leaders who will champion sustainable agriculture and food security, as well as bridging the understanding gap between those who produce our food and those who consume it. Following previous editions hosted in Canada, Australia, and Belgium, this year's Summit is the first to be held in Latin America. Bayer will cover all travel, accommodation, and related costs for the chosen delegates. Since its inception in 2013, the Youth Ag Summit has grown into a movement led by 'agvocates' tackling food security challenges. To date, 300 delegates from more than 50 different countries have taken part, and alumni have gone on to participate in such prominent global events such as the UN Committee on Food Security in Rome, the EAT Stockholm Food Forum, and the European Development Days.

About Bayer
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the Life Science fields of health care and agriculture. Its products and services are designed to benefit the health of people, animals and plants. At the same time, the Group aims to create value through innovation, sustainable growth and a competitive return on investment. Bayer is committed to the principles of sustainable development and to its social and ethical responsibilities as a corporate citizen. In fiscal 2017, the Group employed around 99,800 people and had sales of EUR 35 billion. Capital expenditures amounted to EUR 2.4 billion, R&D expenses to EUR 4.5 billion. For more information, go to www.bayer.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer's public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

SOURCE Bayer Inc.

Kris Allen, Communications Specialist, Bayer Inc., 403.723.1830, [email protected]