Bayer Opens $35m Maize Facility in Kabwe

German pharmaceutical, biotechnology and crop science company Bayer AG has invested $35 million into its latest maize seed facility in Kabwe.

The investment is expected to triple its existing capacity for maize seed production in the country this year alone, with capacity expected to continue to increase in future years. In addition, the new site will create around 80 jobs permanent jobs and over 100 seasonal positions within the region.

Speaking at the launch, company CEO Bill Anderson commented “With our new seed facility in Zambia, we want to make a meaningful contribution to that crucial goal”, referencing helping to reduce current food insecurity within the country. German Ambassador, Anne Wagner-Mitchell, spoke very highly of the move by Bayer, commenting that “I believe that development should be private sector-driven where possible, and it is possible in Zambia, in particular in the agriculture sector.”

Bayer AG operates in 80 countries and has over 93,000 employees globally. In the past year, it announced investments in Mexico, Spain, and China.