Global life sciences company Bayer has partnered with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to deliver high-quality vegetable and corn seed to vulnerable communities across Africa and Ukraine, in a move aimed at tackling hunger, improving nutrition, and strengthening resilience among at-risk populations.
The initiative forms part of Bayer’s Zero Hunger Pledge, launched in 2022, which seeks to reduce global hunger and malnutrition in underserved regions. Under the programme, Bayer plans to donate more than 225 metric tonnes of seed in 2026, valued at approximately €875,000.
The seeds will be distributed through humanitarian and nonprofit organisations to help communities grow nutritious crops and address critical nutrient deficiencies.
IOM is coordinating the distribution through its global network of missions and local partners, ensuring that the seeds reach migrants, displaced families, and communities facing the combined pressures of food insecurity, climate change, and economic instability.
The ongoing rollout covers several countries, including Zambia, Nigeria, Kenya and Ukraine. In Nigeria and Zambia, distributions of onion, tomato and squash seeds are expected to support up to 1,000 internally displaced or vulnerable households in each country.
The initiative aims to boost dietary diversity and promote climate-resilient agriculture in regions frequently affected by shocks.
In Kenya, Bayer is supplying corn seed to communities in Mandera County, where prolonged drought has severely reduced harvests and heightened food insecurity. The intervention goes beyond seed distribution, incorporating agricultural training and infrastructure support to help farmers adapt to changing climatic conditions and rebuild livelihoods.
“Bayer’s commitment to providing migrants and displaced people with the resources they need to access safe, nutritious food will build resilience and improve health,” said Amy Pope. She noted that the partnership strengthens efforts to support vulnerable communities globally.
The collaboration also extends to Ukraine, where Bayer has been providing vegetable seeds since 2022 in response to disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict. Working with the All-Ukrainian Association of Communities, the company will this year distribute seed packages—including cabbage, onion, carrot and corn—to more than 22,300 households.
The packages will also include informational materials on demining to support safer agricultural activities.
Since the onset of the war, Bayer has reached nearly 200,000 households in Ukraine with seed donations, helping families maintain food production amid challenging conditions.
According to Matthias Berninger, the initiative underscores the importance of collaboration in addressing global food security challenges. “No single organisation can solve it alone,” he said, adding that partnerships are critical to ensuring vulnerable communities have the tools needed to produce food sustainably.
Inci Dannenberg highlighted the role of quality seeds in improving both food and nutrition security. She said access to improved vegetable seeds can help close nutrient gaps, build resilience to climate change, and enhance livelihoods.
The partnership aligns with broader global efforts to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly the goal of ending hunger, as stakeholders increasingly emphasise integrated approaches to food systems resilience in the face of growing climate and humanitarian pressures.
