Search begins for next Kiwi delegate to 'plant their path' at the 2019 Youth Ag Summit in Brazil

• 100 young agricultural enthusiasts aged 18 - 25 from across the globe will be chosen to attend the summit in Brasilia, Brazil in November 2019
• One lucky Kiwi delegate will be chosen to represent New Zealand on the world stage
• This year's theme: how to feed a hungry planet in a more sustainable manner
• Applications are now open until January 10, 2019

Auckland, 15 October 2018 – Now’s the time to step up and share your ideas with the world – that’s the call from Bayer New Zealand, which is on the lookout for a Kiwi delegate to represent New Zealand at the Youth Ag Summit in Brasília, Brazil from 4th - 7th November, 2019.

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.

The Youth Ag Summit functions as an idea incubator: helping delegates turn their ideas into reality, and equipping them with the skills needed to realise their projects. The Summit aims to inspire and foster young leaders who will champion sustainable agriculture and food security, as well as bridging and gaining a better understanding between those who produce our food and those who consume it.

Following previous editions hosted in Canada, Australia, and Belgium, the 2019 Summit will take place in the country’s purpose-built capital, Brasília, a UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) World Heritage Site. Home to Brazil’s federal government as well as over 120 foreign embassies, it is the ideal location to welcome the next crop of global ‘agvocates’ – advocates for agriculture – who will shape the future of food.

Bayer New Zealand’s Head of Crop Science Scott Hanson says he’s thrilled that another young New Zealander will have the opportunity to attend such an invaluable and important event.

“The Youth Ag Summit inspires and enables young people to become active leaders for food security. This is an amazing opportunity for one young Kiwi with a passion for agriculture to present their innovative ideas on a global scale and help contribute to the world wide discussion of sustainability and development.

“There’s never been a more important time for innovation, especially in the agricultural space, and as the leaders of tomorrow, our young people need to be at the forefront of the global discussion.”

Beth Hampton, one of the 2017 alumni delegates and a graduate in Agribusiness and Environmental Science at Waikato University, says “Food security is a global challenge and New Zealand has a role to play in addressing this issue. Last year’s summit was an amazing opportunity to collaborate with an international cohort and it really challenged and developed my thinking about sustainable agriculture and issues of food security.

“It was hugely interesting and valuable to hear different global perspectives regarding environmental and agriculture policy, and I encourage any Kiwi with a passion for science and innovation to apply for this once in a lifetime opportunity.”

To apply for the 2019 Summit, eligible candidates (young people of any background aged 18 to 25 and 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. Delegates from each participating country will be selected based on their proposed project idea. Full application guidelines and information can be found here.

A movement driving change

Since its inception in 2013, the Youth Ag Summit has grown into a movement led by ‘agvocates’ who are active on an ongoing basis in 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 as the UN Committee on Food Security in Rome, the EAT Stockholm Food Forum, and the European Development Days.

To learn more, follow #plantyourpath and #youthagsummit on social media, or stay up to date by subscribing to the newsletter: www.newsletter.youthagsummit.com/

About the Bayer and the Youth Ag Summit

Bayer will cover all travel, accommodation and related costs for the chosen delegates.
The Summit is part of Bayer’s Agricultural Education Program: a holistic, long-term approach to encourage young people aged 18 to 28 to learn about sustainable agriculture. The program aims to inspire the next generation to learn more about modern agriculture and find solutions to global food security. As a research-driven company, Bayer is committed to driving societal acceptance of technology, as well as fostering a future talent pipeline of scientists.

About Nuffield Brazil
Nuffield International Farming Scholars program promotes, develops, and inspires leaders in agriculture. Nuffield Scholars are producers and agri-professionals between 25 and 45 years of age who travel globally to explore issues and opportunities in agriculture. With a network of more than 1,700 Nuffield Scholars around the world, participants are able to grow personally and professionally through experiential travel and investigation of contemporary issues in agriculture. Components of a Nuffield scholarship include participating in the program’s annual conference, small group travel, and individual excursions to over 10 countries. For more information, go to www.nuffieldinternational.org and www.nuffield.com.br.

About AISEAC Brazil
AIESEC is a global platform of young leaders under the age of 30 (students and recent graduates), who strive to better themselves and the communities around them, and to explore and develop their leadership potential. They are passionate about world issues, leadership development and cultural understanding and want to develop themselves through practical experiences as a Global Volunteer, Talent or Entrepreneur. For more information, go to www.aiesec.org and www.aiesec.org.br.

Bayer: Science For A Better Life
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 people and improve their quality of life. At the same time, the Group aims to create value through innovation, growth and high earning power. Bayer is committed to the principles of sustainable development and to its social and ethical responsibilities as a corporate citizen. In New Zealand, it supports numerous community and environmental causes, including United Way New Zealand and the Whangarei Native Bird Recovery Centre.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information
Certain statements contained in this communication may constitute “forward-looking statements.” Actual results could differ materially from those projected or forecast in the forward-looking statements. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include the following: the risk that the parties may be unable to achieve expected synergies and operating efficiencies in the merger within the expected timeframes (or at all) and to successfully integrate the operations of Monsanto Company (“Monsanto”) into those of Bayer Aktiengesellschaft (“Bayer”); such integration may be more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected; revenues following the transaction may be lower than expected; operating costs, customer loss and business disruption (including difficulties in maintaining relationships with employees, customers, clients or suppliers) may be greater or more significant than expected following the transaction; the retention of certain key employees at Monsanto; the parties’ ability to meet expectations regarding the accounting and tax treatments of the merger; the impact of refinancing the loans taken out for the transaction; the impact of indebtedness incurred by Bayer in connection with the transaction and the potential impact on Bayer’s rating of indebtedness; the effects of the business combination of Bayer and Monsanto, including the combined company’s future financial condition, operating results, strategy and plans; other factors detailed in Monsanto’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2017, and Monsanto’s other filings with the SEC, which are available at http://www.sec.gov and on Monsanto’s website atwww.monsanto.com; and other factors discussed in Bayer’s public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. Bayer assumes no obligation to update the information in this communication, except as otherwise required by law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date hereof.

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