Partnerships

PROBLEM SITUATION Throughout 2023-2025, Ukraine continued to experience a large-scale humanitarian crisis caused by the full-scale invasion. The destruction of medical infrastructure, a severe shortage of medicines, and the contamination of vast areas of agricultural land with mines and unexploded ordnance posed a constant threat to the lives and well-being of millions of Ukrainians. Access to quality medical care and food security remained critical challenges requiring immediate and systemic solutions.

Bayer, a company with a long history of operations in Ukraine, recognized its deep social responsibility. Guided by its global mission – “Health for all, Hunger for none” – we understood that effective resolution of these challenges during 2023-2025 required a consolidation of efforts. Without active and systemic support from businesses, the humanitarian situation could have significantly worsened. Therefore, Bayer made a strategic decision to mobilize resources and build a broad network of partnerships to effectively overcome the crisis.

SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM SITUATION Bayer developed a comprehensive strategy to support Ukraine throughout 2023-2025, focusing on healthcare and agriculture through the development of strong partnerships, which directly embodies our mission “Health for all, Hunger for none.”

Key Partnerships and Their Role: Our strategy was based on interaction with:

• Ukrainian State Bodies and the President of Ukraine’s Initiative: Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food, UNITED24.
• International and National Humanitarian Organizations: Ukrainian Red Cross Society, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Fondation Suisse de Déminage.
• Charitable Foundations and Public Initiatives: Charitable Foundation “Tvoya Opora”, “SOS Children’s Villages”, Charitable Foundation “Don Calabria”, National Assembly of People with Disabilities of Ukraine, and others.

Detailed Solution by Area (2023-2025):

1. Support for the Healthcare Sector (Embodying part of the “Health for all” mission):

• Partnership with the Ministry of Health of Ukraine: Throughout 2023-2025, over 164,000 packs of vitamins and numerous batches of essential medicines (anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular, oncological, etc.) were transferred, totaling approximately €7.6 million. Ophthalmological equipment was also provided to medical facilities in Chernihiv, Mykolaiv, and Sumy.
• Partnership with the UNITED24 Platform: In December 2023, Bayer donated €1.3 million for the reconstruction of medical infrastructure: €650,000 for the restoration of the Chernihiv Medical Center for Modern Oncology and €650,000 for the purchase of equipment for the Romodanov Institute of Neurosurgery.
• Partnership with the Ukrainian Red Cross Society: Financial assistance totaling UAH 15 million was provided for the purchase of 6 ambulances and 44 portable defibrillators for hospitals in 18 regions of Ukraine.
• Direct Patient Support: From September 2023 and throughout the year, patients in medical facilities received free essential medicine of Bayer’s own production for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases – approximately 65,000 packs valued at an estimated €3.4 million.
• Support for Local Communities: UAH 1 million was allocated for the restoration of the Center for Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery of the “Okhmatdyt” National Children’s Specialized Hospital, and approximately UAH 300,000 for first aid points in 14 rural communities.

2. Support for the Agricultural Sector (Embodying part of the “Hunger for none” mission):

• Partnership with Fondation Suisse de Déminage: €825,000 was allocated for the purchase of a large demining machine, which enabled faster clearance of large areas of agricultural land from mines and unexploded ordnance.
• Partnership with the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine and the All-Ukrainian Association of Amalgamated Territorial Communities: In 2023-2024, almost 73,000 bags of corn seeds and 4,000 bags of rapeseed seeds were distributed to over 3,933 farming households. Owners of household plots received 2.7 tons of vegetable seeds. This cooperation ensured effective logistics and distribution of seeds, allowing over 84,000 hectares of fields to be sown.
• Partnership with the Charitable Foundation “Tvoya Opora”: Implementation of the Digital4UA project to support Ukrainian farmers – through the introduction of innovative technologies, Bayer provided 300 sets of FieldView™ YieldKit equipment and access to the Climate FieldView™ digital farming platform. This allows farmers to analyze data, optimize resource use, and increase yields through precision agriculture.

3. Assistance to Vulnerable Populations (2023-2025):

• Partnership with Charitable Foundations (including CF “Tvoya Opora”, Charitable Foundation Don Calabria, and the National Assembly of People with Disabilities of Ukraine): Food, hygiene products, and rehabilitation equipment were provided to residents of Kharkiv, orphans, people with disabilities, and the elderly, totaling over UAH 4 million.
• Psychological Support: Financial support for projects providing psychological assistance to war-affected individuals amounted to almost UAH 2.3 million.

Quote from CEO Oliver Gierlichs: “Throughout 2023-2025, we continued to actively work in Ukraine, understanding that the war demands not just aid, but a systemic approach and a consolidation of efforts. We chose the path of partnership, because only together with the government, international organizations, and local communities could we achieve maximum impact. This is not only our duty as a socially responsible company, but also the path to realizing our global mission: ‘Health for all, Hunger for none’ for Ukraine.”

Challenges and Their Overcoming: The main challenges during 2023-2025 remained logistical issues related to active hostilities and infrastructure destruction. These difficulties were overcome through close coordination with partners who had experience working in crisis conditions and established delivery channels.

Resources Expended: In total, approximately €33 million was allocated for the implementation of the adopted solution, including initial contributions and ongoing activities throughout 2023-2025.

RESULTS OF THE ADOPTED SOLUTION

The comprehensive approach and the development of a broad network of partnerships enabled Bayer to achieve significant and measurable results during 2023-2025, directly contributing to the realization of our mission “Health for all, Hunger for none.”

Impact on the Healthcare Sector (Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being – “Health for all”):

• Access to Medicines: Thousands of Ukrainians received essential medicines and vitamins, including 65,000 packs of cardiovascular drugs (from September 2023) and over 164,000 packs of vitamins.
• Infrastructure Restoration: Key medical facilities, such as the Chernihiv Oncology Center, were restored, and equipment was purchased for the Romodanov Institute of Neurosurgery.
• Emergency Aid: 6 ambulances and 44 defibrillators improved emergency medical response capabilities in 18 regions.
• Psychological Support: Almost UAH 2.3 million was directed to support the mental health of affected individuals.

Impact on Agriculture and Food Security (Goal 2: Zero Hunger – “Hunger for none”):

• Land Demining: Significant areas of agricultural land were cleared of explosive ordnance.
• Restoration of Sown Areas: The provision of seeds in 2023-2024 allowed over 84,000 hectares of fields to be sown, making a direct contribution to food security.
• Digitalization of the Agricultural Sector: 300 sets of FieldView™ YieldKit and access to Climate FieldView™ through Digital4UA helped farmers implement digital technologies, increasing efficiency and sustainability of production.
• Support for Smallholdings: 2.7 tons of vegetable seeds for household plots, provided during 2023-2024, helped ensure food for thousands of families.

Social Impact and Company Position:

• Support for Vulnerable Groups: Aid totaling over UAH 4 million was provided to residents of Kharkiv, orphans, people with disabilities, and the elderly.
• Reputation Strengthening: These initiatives significantly strengthened Bayer’s position in the market as a socially responsible leader. Trust in the company grew among both consumers and partners.
• What would have happened without the solution: Had this solution not been adopted, the humanitarian situation in Ukraine during 2023-2025 would have been significantly worse. Thousands of people would not have received essential medicines, medical facilities would have remained destroyed, and agricultural lands would have been mined and uncultivated. Bayer would have lost a unique opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to its values and mission, which would have negatively affected its market position and interaction with Ukrainian society.

Lessons Learned:

• The Power of Partnerships: The experience of 2023-2025 showed that only through broad and trusting partnerships can crises of this scale be effectively addressed, ensuring maximum impact.
• Flexibility and Responsiveness: The need for rapid resource mobilization and adaptation to changing war conditions remained key.
• Comprehensive Approach: The importance of simultaneous support for various sectors (medicine, agriculture, social sphere) to achieve a sustainable effect.
• Investment in the Future: Support for digital initiatives, such as Digital4UA, is an investment not only in current survival but also in the long-term recovery and development of the country.

Overall, Bayer’s activities during 2023-2025, implemented through a powerful network of partnerships, serve as a clear example of how business can be a driving force for change, contributing to the overcoming of the humanitarian crisis and laying the foundations for a sustainable future for Ukraine, in full accordance with our mission “Health for all, Hunger for none.”