Team size:   nine 

What measures has your company taken to embed sustainability practices into its core business operations, and how does the role of the general counsel contribute to driving and ensuring sustainable practices within the company? 

At our Crop Science business at Bayer, sustainability is embedded into our core operations, and involves advancing on regenerative agriculture, which focuses on restoring soil health, improving water management, increasing biodiversity, and mitigating climate change while boosting food production. Key initiatives include promotion and implementation with our stakeholders of regenerative farming systems which integrate advanced plant breeding, crop protection, and digital solutions. These systems improve soil health, increase yields, and mitigate climate change. For instance, our new rice cropping system uses 40% less water and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 45%. 

Carbon Sequestration has been another initiative we have focused on. Carbon farming programs in Central America incentivise farmers to keep carbon in the soil, reducing atmospheric greenhouse gases, demonstrating that productivity and sustainability can coexist. Through the Bay service programme, Bayer trains farmers in good agricultural practices, ensuring certification and market access. Bayer also leverages advanced plant breeding, crop protection, and digital solutions to tailor regenerative practices to specific farm conditions, enhancing productivity and environmental benefits. 

The general counsel plays a crucial role in embedding and advancing these sustainable practices within Bayer. The general counsel transforms complex ESG regulations into actionable business strategies, ensuring they align with the sustainability goals. By reinforcing decision-making processes with a legal framework that prioritises environmental and social responsibility, the general counsel empowers the company to undertake sustainability initiatives confidently and safely. 

Furthermore, the general counsel mitigates potential legal risks associated with sustainability projects, ensuring they are legally sound and effectively implemented. This proactive approach allows Bayer to pursue innovative sustainability practices while maintaining compliance and mitigating risks. 

How do you approach managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crises, and how does your legal strategy align with the broader business strategy to ensure the organisation’s resilience? 

During periods of instability or crises, my approach to managing legal aspects focuses on building resilience and maintaining the focus on our desired outcomes. These periods often bring a sense of VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, ambiguity) within teams. My strategy in such scenarios include cultivating clear and transparent communication channels with the team. This collaborative dialogue facilitates a comprehensive understanding of the situation, enabling a risk assessment and the identification of controllable factors. 

 Amidst crisis, it is easy to be overwhelmed by minor details. My approach guides the team to maintain focus on core activities and desired outcomes to maintain our core operations. As a legal team, we serve as facilitators of the business strategy, aiming to minimize obstacles and catalyze optimal solutions in alignment with our mission. 

Promoting resilience is also key; a positive outlook transmitted to the team empowers them to concentrate on essential tasks during periods of instability. By fostering a mindset of adaptability, flexibility, and positivity, we build resilience within the team. 

Adopting a creative mindset is also paramount as crises compel us to challenge conventional thinking and step out of our comfort zones to find solutions and get back on track. Embracing a creative mindset allows us to tackle problems with innovative, strategic, and unconventional solutions. 

This approach not only helps us navigate crises effectively but also aligns our legal strategy seamlessly with Bayer’s broader mission and license to operate. By prioritising mission-critical activities and acting pragmatically and decisively, we support the goal of overcoming challenges, building resilience, and safeguarding our license to operate to advance in our mission of health for all, hunger for none.