Leverkusen, August 18, 2022 – Bayer is proud to announce its support of the humanitarian non-profit organization “Fondation suisse de déminage” (FSD) in their vital mission to demine land that has been contaminated by mines and unexploded devices since the conflict in Ukraine began. A generous donation of 825,000 euros will be dedicated to the purchase of a large-size mechanical mine clearance machine, which will play a crucial role in clearing farmland and making it safe again.
The mine clearance machine is currently undergoing maintenance and preparations for deployment in Ukraine, scheduled for later this fall. It will support FSD’s demining operations, in collaboration with the United States Department of State, with the specific areas of operation coordinated between FSD and Ukrainian authorities.
“Our donation to FSD is a significant humanitarian contribution to the safety of the Ukrainian civilian population, who continue to face life-threatening challenges from landmines and explosive devices. By clearing farmland, this initiative will also have a positive impact on global food security, as large parts of the global south depend on food exports from Ukraine,” says Bayer CEO Werner Baumann.
Hansjoerg Eberle, Director of FSD, emphasizes the importance of the large demining machine, stating, “This machine will expedite the ‘technical survey’ of potentially contaminated land and enable more efficient allocation of clearance resources, ultimately accelerating the demining process in Ukraine.”
With large areas of land in Ukraine contaminated with landmines and unexploded munitions, including valuable agricultural land, mine clearance is essential for the safety and security of Ukrainian civilians, including farmers. To further support this cause, Bayer has contributed over 10 million euros since the beginning of the conflict, including the establishment of a disaster relief fund and product donations.
Furthermore, Bayer is fully committed to Ukraine’s future through further investments and support of President Zelensky’s rebuilding plan – United24. To learn more, you can read the full article here or Read More.