Growing the future from Marana

“Are you located in that huge, white building in Marana?” “Bayer? Like the Aspirin?” These lines have served as great conversation starters with our community. The simple answer is yes. However, when elaborating, we say this “huge, white building” is home to Bayer’s global mission – “Health for All, Hunger for None.”

Sitting in sunny Southern Arizona, the Bayer Marana Innovation Center is climate-controlled facility dedicated to corn seed production. Our goal is to enhance food sustainability and meet the projected 50% increase in food demand by 2050.

With a team of nearly 150 people, the seven-acre facility achieves 3-4 crop cycles annually, growing more than 350,000 corn plants. Traditional plant breeding methods require 190+ acres of land for a crop cycle.

While our doors only opened five years ago, nearly all of Bayer’s global corn seed development flows through our facility today. Our work supports low- and middle-income countries, where farming is the primary income source. We are committed to reducing resource use and promoting sustainable agriculture through technology.

For us, saying ‘We Grow the Future’ is not an overstatement. We are not only referring to agriculture but the talented workforce and the growing community we are a part of.

“I participated in four volunteer events within the first month of joining Bayer Marana,” said Julia Leon, Communications Specialist. “It’s the first time in a professional setting, where I see such commitment to growing within a community.”

Our community engagement focuses on four key themes: sustainability, STEM education, agriculture and health and nutrition. The Bayer Fund charity has funded 38 local charities and awarded over $350K to help support their efforts since 2020.

Get a firsthand look of our greenhouse and innovative work by attending a guided tour. Interested individuals can email maranatours@bayer.com for more information.