10th January, Varanasi: Bayer, a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of agriculture and healthcare, has partnered with Mina Guli, water advocate and ultramarathon runner, to raise awareness around water conservation through the Run Blue initiative. With the realization that worldwide water consumption will be 40% greater than the availability by 2030, the Run Blue initiative plays a critical role in addressing the water crisis.

The 5-city India chapter of Run Blue began in New Delhi on the 8th of January. The third leg of the initiative will be at one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Varanasi. As one of the oldest cities on the banks of the river Ganga, Varanasi has been a symbol of Indian culture and history. The city’s life is intertwined with that of the river Ganga, a river that holds great economic, social and spiritual importance for India. The expansion and growing urbanization of cities on the banks of the Ganga and the discharge of industrial waste have impacted the river and pollution is a major challenge today.

The government has initiated the Nanami Gange project, an integrated conservation project aiming to clean up and protect Ganga from further pollution. Mina Guli hopes to reinforce the importance of using water judiciously and cleaning up our rivers by running in Varanasi. Mina and Bayer aim to advocate the conservation and rejuvenation of rivers by working in partnership with the government and civil society.

Mina Guli is running 200 marathons worldwide leading up to the United Nations (UN) water conference, the first in almost 50 years, on World Water Day, 22 March 2023, in New York. She has completed 153 of these marathons so far.

Bayer, Mina’s partner in Run Blue remains committed to sustainable growth involving protection of all natural resources, including water. To address the global water crisis, Bayer has made conscious business choices in tandem with its commitment to water conservation and sustainable growth. One such example is the Better Life Farming initiative in which Bayer is working with like-minded partners within the Agri industry to promote efficient water management systems and a sustainable ecosystem among smallholder farmers in India.

Bayer's commitment to water conservation through the Run Blue initiative aligns with the Government's efforts to make Indian farms, cities, and villages more water efficient and increase access to clean water for all.

About Bayer 

Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. Its products and services are designed to help people and the planet thrive by supporting efforts to master the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. Bayer is committed to drive sustainable development and generate a positive impact with its businesses. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. The Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability, and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2021, the Group employed around 100,000 people and had sales of 44.1 billion euros. R&D expenses before special items amounted to 5.3 billion euros. For more information, go to www.bayer.com

Media Contacts: 

Arijit Banerjee

Communications Business Partner, Corporate - South Asia, Bayer

Email: arijit.banerjee@bayer.com

Deepshikha Sinha

Senior Account Manager, Edelman

Email: deepshikha.sinha@edelman.com