AUSVEG chief executive officer, Richard Mulcahy, said the combined resources of the two companies would provide great benefits to vegetable and potato growers.

Bayer CropScience has immediately started working with AUSVEG in sharing vital information to assist the industry in addressing major threats to crops.

Discussions are also being held on the state of science on the application of existing and potential new products to combat crop disease.

Bayer CropScience, a global arm of Bayer, will also work with AUSVEG to identify market opportunities for vegetables, including sharing information on successful overseas models.

As the national peak industry body, AUSVEG represents the interests of more 9000 Australian vegetable and potato growers from the $3.7 billion wholesale Australian vegetable industry.

The partnership will result in close collaboration between the two organisations on issues specific to the horticulture industry and enable growers to share in the collective expertise of the organisations.

Scott Ward, horticulture and summer crops portfolio manager, Bayer CropScience, was also looking forward to strengthening the partnership between the two companies.

“Our partnership with AUSVEG further enables us to deliver innovative solutions to the market, to ensure that growers can produce healthier crops, more efficiently and more sustainably.”