Bayer Employees Volunteer At UC Davis Arboretum for Annual Day of Service

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Oct. 14, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Bayer hosted its annual community service day on Friday, Oct. 7, at the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden. Through a donation of $19,000 and more than 130 employee volunteers, Bayer showcased its commitment to supporting pollinator health and habitat development by assisting in the planting of wildflowers for pollinator forage, completing a garden path and wall mosaic art feature near the new hummingbird garden.

The hummingbird garden is the result of a partnership between the UC Davis Arboretum and the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine Hummingbird Health and Conservation Program (HHCP). UC Davis' veterinary program, the number one ranked veterinary program in the world, aims to save the lives of 47 species of hummingbirds that are endangered or susceptible to species-wide decline.

This year employees engaged in three separate projects:

• A pollinator and hummingbird habitat planting project where employees planted more than 2,500 plants representing 25 species of wildflowers, shrubs, and trees in the meadow garden;
• Installing a garden path made of decomposed granite;
• Installing a mosaic medallion in an oak leaf design.

"We look forward to this service day all year," said Jon Margolis, Head of Global Biologics Research for Bayer's Crop Science division and West Sacramento site leader. "Our team has a history of partnering with local organizations to offer service opportunities and projects that support sustainable agriculture and environmental practices in the community. Without pollinator insects like bees and hummingbirds, many of our crops would cease to exist. Providing healthy habitats and increasing forage for these pollinators are paramount."

The UC Davis Hummingbird Health and Conservation Program focuses on protecting hummingbirds through scientific discovery. Core components include studies focusing on establishing normal hummingbird health parameters; population monitoring research (hummingbird banding, hummingbird tracking) and studies that specifically address the health of the birds. Dr. Lisa Tell, avian veterinarian, focuses on studying hummingbird population health and disease so that more is known about what threatens these charismatic wildlife species. According to HHCP research, hummingbirds are prone to infectious diseases and exposure to environmental contaminants that could have long-term impacts on their health. Hummingbirds serve a variety of vital environmental functions, such as insectivory and pollination, and by providing proper education on hummingbirds' environmental impact, HHCP inspires the community to invest in a healthy ecosystem and sustain hummingbird populations.

"With Bayer's help, over the course of only one day, we created a beautiful garden where the public can learn more about hummingbird research at UC Davis, the value of native plants for supporting the health and conservation of hummingbirds and other critical pollinators, and how to attract and support hummingbirds in their own gardens," said Emily Griswold, director of GATEways horticulture and teaching gardens for the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden. "It's an incredible opportunity for our campus and the community. We are thrilled that Bayer shares our goal of helping educate others on the importance of pollinators and preserving the integrity of our ecosystem."

For more information on the UC Davis Hummingbird Health and Conservation Program, visit http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/ucdhummingbirdhealth/about/index.cfm.

For more information on Bayer's bee health initiatives, please visit www.beehealth.bayer.us.

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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 fiscal 2015, the Group employed around 117,000 people and had sales of EUR 46.3 billion. Capital expenditures amounted to EUR 2.6 billion, R&D expenses to EUR 4.3 billion. These figures include those for the high-tech polymers business, which was floated on the stock market as an independent company named Covestro on October 6, 2015. For more information, go to www.bayer.com.

Find more information at www.cropscience.bayer.us. 

Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer's public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

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