Your Guide to Bayer’s Latest Product – Strawberries

Bayer has announced the launch of Baya Solara, the first commercial strawberry variety from its De Ruiter brand.

The launch follows Bayer's acquisition of the strawberry assets from UK-based NIAB in 2023.

Bayer says the introduction of the new variety “reinforces Bayer’s commitment to providing innovative solutions to protected culture growers and sets a new standard in soft fruit cultivation”.

It adds: “Strawberries are among the fastest-growing fruit crops, with year-round demand exceeding supply.”

Productivity and disease resistance

Swanny Chouteau, Portfolio Lead for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region at Bayer’s Crop Science division, says: “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.”

What makes the strawberry special?

According to Bayer, Baya Solara is characterised by its large, uniform fruits and is designed to reduce post-harvest darkening, meeting the growing consumer and retail demand for high-quality strawberries.

It adds: “The fruit also offers a pleasant sweetness with a balanced sugar-acid ratio, making it an attractive option for consumers.

“In addition, this early-mid season June-bearer variety is designed to show significant improvement against common diseases, including Phytophthora cactorum, a fungal disease that causes the strawberries’ crown to rot.”

This genetic resistance is vital for ensuring the long-term viability of strawberry production.

Good for growers, retailers and consumers

VK Kishore, Head of Global Product Innovation for Vegetables at Bayer’s Crop Science division, says: “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 .

Baya Solara will be available to growers in the UK, Germany and Benelux.

The June-bearer is the first one to be commercially launched since the NIAB acquisition.

It complements six other strawberry varieties, including Malling Ace, a versatile and productive everbearer that has been increasingly favoured by growers and consumers, and Malling Centenary, a June-bearer variety, regarded for its standout fruit quality.

With more than 20 different crops and thousands of seed selections, Bayer’s Vegetable Seeds business supports a range of growers.

Key crops include Tomato, Cucumber, Broccoli, Carrots, Cauliflower, Eggplant, Lettuce, Melon, Onion, Pepper, Spinach, Sweetcorn and Watermelon.

About Bayer

Bayer is a global enterprise in the life science fields of healthcare and nutrition.

Its mission is “Health for all, Hunger for none” and the company’s products and services are designed to help people and the planet thrive by “supporting efforts to master the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population”.

In 2024, the Group employed 93,000 people and had sales of US$55.6bn.