Bayer launches Baya Solara strawberry to boost grower productivity
The new variety promises high yields, disease resistance, and improved fruit quality for Northern European growers.
EUROPE – Bayer has unveiled its first commercial strawberry variety under the De Ruiter brand, Baya Solara, aiming to strengthen its presence in the strawberry market.
The launch follows Bayer’s acquisition of the UK-based NIAB strawberry assets in 2023 and targets the growing demand for high-quality strawberries in protected cropping systems.
“Our new variety Baya Solara is an exciting June-bearing cultivar and delivers impressive productivity and strong resistance to diseases like Phytophthora cactorum without compromising fruit quality.
With this launch, we are targeting Northern Europe’s rapidly growing protected cropping sector and offer growers new opportunities,” said Swanny Chouteau, Portfolio Lead for the Europe Middle East and Africa region at Bayer’s Crop Science division.
Large fruits, long shelf life
Baya Solara stands out for its large, uniform fruits and reduced post-harvest darkening, responding to the increasing consumer and retail demand for reliable quality. The berries maintain a balanced sugar-acid ratio, offering pleasant sweetness for consumers.
Its genetic resistance to Phytophthora cactorum protects the crown from rotting, a common threat to strawberry production, ensuring sustainable yields for growers.
“Baya Solara is a strawberry that offers many benefits. For growers, it means a more productive and reliable harvest. For retailers, it delivers consistent, large, firm fruits with excellent shelf life, reducing waste and ensuring dependable quality. For families, it offers delicious strawberries that stay fresh longer, helping them reduce waste and enjoy every berry,” said VK Kishore, Head of Global Product Innovation for Vegetables at Bayer’s Crop Science division.
Baya Solara will be available in the UK, Germany, and Benelux, complementing Bayer’s existing portfolio, which includes varieties like Malling™ Ace and Malling™ Centenary. These additions give growers more options for both everbearing and June-bearing strawberries, supporting steady production across different seasons.
Expanding Bayer’s crop solutions
Beyond strawberries, Bayer continues to advance solutions for other crops. In the United States, the company plans to release the herbicides Icafolin and Convintro to help corn and soybean growers manage resistant weeds.
“Since it’s a completely new mode of action, you see a completely different set of visual symptomology about how it kills and controls the weed,” said Brian Naber, Head of Bayer’s North America and Australia-New Zealand region. The potential return of dicamba is also under review, promising stricter use guidelines to enhance safety and efficiency.
Bayer’s Vegetable Seeds business now offers more than 20 crops and thousands of seed selections worldwide, aiming to meet consumer preferences while supporting growers with dependable, high-quality varieties. The company’s 2024 sales reached US$50.1 billion, with R&D investments of US$6.7 billion.
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