Biodiversity Policy Engagement Analysis
Biodiversity Lobbying Overview: Bayer has mostly positive top-line messaging on biodiversity loss, but its engagement on biodiversity-relevant policy is predominantly negative.
Top-Line Messaging on Biodiversity Loss: Bayer has taken a mix of positive and negative positions in its high-level messaging. On its website, accessed in December 2023, Bayer clearly supported the science of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). Bayer also communicated board support for action on biodiversity loss on its corporate website accessed in December 2023. Nonetheless, in an article published on its website in June 2022, and in other instances, Bayer appeared to suggest that pesticides have a positive impact on biodiversity, when the IPBES clearly states that pesticides are a leading cause of biodiversity loss. Bayer is one of the signatories of the joint action for Business for Nature, calling on governments “to adopt policies now to reverse nature loss in this decade”, accessed February 2023. Bayer has also stated support for the UN Convention of Biological Diversity on its website in November 2024.
Engagement with Biodiversity-Related Regulations: Bayer has mostly engaged on pollution related regulation, particularly on proposals to restrict the use of various pesticides and chemicals. In December 2023, Bayer submitted a comment to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) not supporting the biological evaluation (which assesses the risk of a chemical) of dinotefuran (a neonicotinoid pesticide) issued under the Endangered Species Act. In an October 2023 comment, Bayer appeared not to support the EPA’s Draft Herbicide Strategy Framework, which aimed to reduce the impact of herbicides on federally listed endangered and threatened species, as well as their designated critical habitats. Bayer also expressed concerns over the EPA's Draft Vulnerable Species Pilot Project, which are proposed mitigations to minimize or avoid pesticide exposure for selected vulnerable species, suggesting in an August 2023 comment that the proposals were “overly precautionary”. In a 2025 position statement, Bayer advocated against EU PFAS legislation, claiming it must avoid “negative effects on production.” In a November 2023 comment, Bayer appeared to not support the EU’s Soil Monitoring Law, and called for a less stringent “soil health” definition within the directive.
In its US Senate Lobbying Disclosures, Bayer disclosed engagement on the import of glyphosate from Mexico in 2023, and on the Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act in 2022. In its entry in the EU Transparency Register, last updated in February 2025, Bayer disclosed engagement on policies related to pollution including the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive, and the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability Towards a Toxic-Free Environment. However, Bayer does not appear to have disclosed a public position on any of these policies.
Bayer has engaged on issues related to land use change. In a 2025 position statement, Bayer advocates for increased biofuel production from feedstocks, with limited reference to the need for sustainability criteria. In a 2023 joint letter co-signed by CEO Bill Anderson, Bayer supported additional regulation to conserve and regenerate carbon sinks. However, in a 2023 joint letter to the US Treasury Secretary, Bayer advocated for a less stringent lifecycle analysis approach for Sustainable Aviation Fuels, which risks weakening monitoring of agricultural practices in the US.
Bayer has also engaged on policy relevant to multiple drivers of biodiversity loss. In February 2024, Bayer was a signatory of a joint statement urging German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, to approve the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD)..
Positioning on Statutory Protection of Wildlife: Bayer appears not to have submitted a comment on the statutory protection of wildlife since 2019. In a 2024 LDA filing, Bayer reports that it has engaged on the US Endangered Species Act, but does not disclose its position.
Industry Association Governance:Bayer is a member of several industry associations which take negative positions on biodiversity related regulations, including the US Chamber of Commerce, CropLife Europe and CropLife International. As assessed in March 2025, Bayer CEO Bill Anderson is a member of the Federation of German Industries (BDI) executive committee, and a member of the board for the European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic). Bayer has not disclosed indirect influence relevant to biodiversity loss in its industry association review.
InfluenceMap collects and assesses evidence of corporate biodiversity policy engagement on a weekly basis, depending on the availability of information from each specific data source (for more information see our methodology). While this analysis flows through to the company’s scores each week, the summary above is updated periodically. This summary was last updated in Q2 2025.