Bayer to refund winegrowers for fungicide damage

The German chemical giant Bayer will reimburse Swiss winegrowers whose crops were damaged after using its Moon Privilege fungicide. Total compensation could amount to CHF90 million ($92 million), according to a recent estimate.  On Tuesday, Bayer announced that it would reimburse Swiss winegrowers who had used the fungicide last year and experienced poor crop yields due to growth problems of grapes. The chemical firm said it had taken the decision despite there being no clear proof so far that the product was to blame.  Some 900 growers in Switzerland have claimed that their grape harvests have been damaged after using Bayer’s Moon Privilege fungicide. Affected plants have deformed leaves and dried, shrivelled grapes, and winegrowers reported lower yields this year. Until now, Bayer had said it was investigating but had rejected legal responsibility. According to the Swiss Winegrowers’ Federation, the fungicide problem meant that the overall grape harvest this year ...