Bayer Vietnam’s Children Painting Competition 2013 winners announced

Taking place on the occasion of the World Environment Day, the event also combined the launch of the Bayer Children’s Book on climate change to around 200 Bayer Vietnam employees and their children. Bayer Vietnam especially welcomed Dr. David Nicholson, head of Research and Development and a member of the Executive Committee with Bayer CropScience (BCS), who graced the event as part of his visit to Vietnam and the Asia Pacific region.

“It is my first time to Vietnam, and I am impressed with what I have seen thus far. Vietnam is one of the most dynamic and exciting markets in the world, and agriculture plays a key role in terms of contributing to the key livelihoods of its people, as well as to Vietnam’s economy,” said Nicholson. “It is therefore crucial with climate change having a potentially huge impact on agriculture in Vietnam, that we look at ways to mitigate and raise awareness of the impact of climate change.”

Vietnam is one of the most vulnerable countries to the impact of climate change, due to its long coastline and large deltas. According to the WWF, more than one million people in the Mekong Delta will be directly affected by 2050 from risk through coastal erosion and land loss, primarily as a result of decreased sediment delivery by the rivers, as well as a rise in sea level.

As much as 590,000 hectares of rice producing areas could be lost; in turn, affecting more than 10 million farming households and more than 58 million Vietnamese who rely on agriculture as their main means of livelihood.

BCS Vietnam thus sees an urgent need to raise awareness and undertake efforts to mitigate the impact of climate change in Vietnam, through providing farmers with an innovative portfolio of crop protection products and seeds that help to reduce losses, increase yields, improve plant quality and improve stress tolerance to climate and diseases. It is also undertaking extensive field work throughout Vietnam, in collaboration with the Cuu Long Rice Research Institute, to improve rice cultivation and productivity.

Bayer Vietnam Children’s Painting Competition invites children between the ages of 6 and 14 whose parents, uncles or aunts are working for Bayer Vietnam, to illustrate their personal view of the environment – their wishes, fears and hopes. This is the third year the competition has been organised and response has been overwhelming.

Starting from December 2012 through to May 2013, Bayer Vietnam has received more than 70 paintings from 60 children for the 2013 competition. All the submitted paintings were displayed as a small “gallerie d’art” at Bayer Vietnam’s CentrePoint office from May 27 to June 6, and received positive feedback from Bayer employees and visitors. The six winners honoured at the ceremony were chosen by a jury from the Art Association of Ho Chi Minh City.

During the event, the Bayer Children’s Book on climate change, titled “What’s Up With The Earth?”, was introduced to the children. Illustrated in an attractive manner with an easy-to-understand storyline, the book aims to educate the young about climate change and empower them to take action to mitigate its effect, as well as to choose a more sustainable way of life.

The children enjoyed watching the video introducing the book, and they could not wait to get their hands on the book and read the stories. Several games about the environment were also organized for the young artists, with the support of the Bayer Young Environmental Envoys.

“We are happy to make this competition an annual activity for the children of our Bayer Vietnam colleagues, and see how their painting skills develop through each year. Together with the Children’s Book on climate change launched today, we hope to further nurture the children’s love for environment and also their awareness and action to protect it,” said David J. Champion, general director of Bayer Vietnam at the ceremony.