SACTO Announcement: Bayer CropScience will be headquartered in West Sacramento
Published: July 24, 2013
Sacramento, Calif., July 24, 2013 – The Sacramento Area Commerce and Trade Organization (SACTO) is pleased to announce the location of Bayer CropScience, a division of Bayer AG, in West Sacramento, California. The new facility will serve as the North American headquarters and research and development center for the vegetable seed and crop protection divisions of the company, which have joined to form Bayer CropScience. The approximately 164,000 square foot facility on ten acres will employ 300 at full capacity. The company will also acquire an additional non-contiguous site on which to construct a greenhouse facility. The project will have an economic impact of about $127 million in output (the value of goods and services in the Sacramento Region economy on an annual basis generated through direct, indirect, and induced activities of the company.)
Bayer CropScience will use the new site to expand and accelerate the development of innovative products which will be marketed worldwide as part of integrated crop solutions through the company’s global network of field sales and technical resources. “Integrated crop solutions, with Biologics and Vegetable Seeds as key components, will give growers worldwide new tools to manage the diverse demands of the food chain while maximizing the yield and quality of their crops” added Mike Miille, Head of Business Management, Biologics at Bayer CropScience. “It is exciting that the new jobs that will be created in Greater Sacramento area through this investment and expansion will have such a wide-reaching impact.”
With annual sales of over $1.5 billion, Bayer CropScience is one of the world’s leading innovative crop science companies and has a well-established inventory of environmentally green products, fruit and vegetable seed products, and biological control agents available in 30 countries. It is expected that green products will increase significantly with tremendous growth opportunity in all agricultural crops as well as in the environmental science business. The West Sacramento facility will further strengthen the company’s bonds with the University of California at Davis, one of the world’s top plant science institutes. The new location will be a world class center of expertise and excellence and demonstrates the company’s continued commitment and investment in agriculture-related R&D.
“The commitment to the Sacramento Region that this investment represents by a company with the global stature of Bayer AG validates the region’s strength in agriculture, biotech, and related sciences and paves the way for more companies to follow,” said Gary L. Bradus, SACTO Board Chair.
“We’re thrilled with Bayer’s decision to locate in West Sacramento. The decision will bring new jobs, revenue, and opportunities for other businesses and industry sectors to the area,” said West Sacramento Mayor, Christopher Cabaldon. “Our staff worked closely with SACTO to put together a deal that allows Bayer AG to grow its footprint in the region.”
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care,agriculture and high-tech materials. This year the company looks back on 150 years of working to fulfill its mission “Bayer: Science For A Better Life.” Bayer CropScience, the subgroup of Bayer AG responsible for the agricultural business, is one of the world’s leading innovative crop science companies in the areas of seeds, crop protection and non-agricultural pest control. 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 21,000 and is represented in more than 120 countries.
Bayer was represented by Ron Thomas and Bruce Hohenhaus of Cushman & Wakefield. The project enlisted the assistance of many partners at both the state and local levels. SACTO would like to especially thank Mather Kearney of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), the California Employment Training Panel, and the City of West Sacramento for their support in the effort.