LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY — Bayer A.G. will invest billions of dollars in the years ahead to develop alternatives to the weedkiller glyphosate, the company said June 14.

“While glyphosate will continue to play an important role in agriculture and in Bayer’s portfolio, the company is committed to offering more choices for growers and will invest approximately €5 billion ($5.6 billion) in additional methods to combat weeds over the next decade,” the company said.

The announcement comes a year after Bayer’s acquisition of Monsanto. Since the deal was completed, Bayer has faced more than 13,000 lawsuits alleging the herbicide is carcinogenic.

The company said its research and development investments will help enhance the understanding of resistance mechanisms it says will lead to the discovery and development of “new modes of actions” bolstering “tailored integrated weed management solutions” and allowing more precise recommendations through digital farming tools. Bayer said its efforts will include stepped-up partnerships with weed scientists globally to “help develop customized solutions for farmers at a local level.”