Strong pipeline of BASF agricultural innovations will benefit food security, climate and environment
- Innovations in seeds and traits, seed treatment, biological and chemical crop protection, and digital farming solutions for important crops worldwide
- Improvements for climate resilience, biodiversity preservation, precision applications and reduced CO2 emissions
- Projected peak sales potential of more than €7.5 billion confirmed
BASF announces its ten-year outlook on agricultural innovations that support food security for future generations, while minimizing the impact of farming on the climate and the environment. The company focuses on improving agricultural outcomes in major crops, like wheat, canola, soybean, corn, cotton, rice, as well as fruits and vegetables. According to estimates from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), these crops account for more than 50% of the world’s farmland, which is why innovations applied on such a large scale have the potential to make farming even more productive and sustainable.
Within these major crops, BASF continues to innovate across its pipeline of seeds and traits, seed treatment, biological and chemical crop protection, as well as digital farming solutions and will launch major pipeline projects across all business areas over the next decade. The value of the innovation pipeline is strong, with an estimated peak sales potential of more than €7.5 billion. The importance of BASF’s products and solutions to society is growing, as the company systematically incorporates sustainability criteria into its agricultural research. In 2021, it spent about €900 million in R&D in the Agricultural Solutions segment, representing around 11% of the segment’s sales. In 2022, BASF will continue to invest in research and development of agricultural innovations at a high level.
While focusing on selected crop systems in key regions, the company tailors its products, technologies and services to help farmers grow their crops optimally even in challenging environmental conditions. “Innovation in agriculture is essential to enable sustainable food production. We need to find the right balance for better yield – yield produced in ways that meet the demands of future generations, has minimal impact on the environment and helps farmers make a living,” said Dr. Livio Tedeschi, President of BASF Agricultural Solutions. “Our innovations enable both more productive and more sustainable farming – key levers identified by the United Nations and incorporated in their Sustainable Development Goals. At BASF Agricultural Solutions, we made this a priority and committed to clear and measurable targets to boost sustainable agriculture by 2030.”
“Over the past decade, we have developed a broad portfolio that leverages all technologies needed for a more sustainable future of agriculture,” said Dr. Peter Eckes, President R&D and Regulatory of BASF Agricultural Solutions. “As a trusted and reliable innovation partner, our research for agricultural solutions reflects a long-term strategy that gives farmers stability in a changing world and allows them to increase yield and reduce the impact of farming on natural resources.”
Innovations in North American canola production to strengthen farmers’ climate resilience
To strengthen growers’ resilience in challenging environments, BASF innovates for the industry’s most comprehensive portfolio in canola. The company continues to improve its leading InVigor® canola products through selection for hybrid vigor, while also developing yellow-seeded canola hybrids to be grown in historically less productive farmland of Canada and the U.S. where conditions are drier and hotter. Yellow-seeded canola hybrids will feature herbicide tolerance, a critical tool for weed control in canola production, and BASF plans to bring this innovation to the field mid-decade. The combination of traits and genetics will allow farmers to produce a high-value oil crop under challenging conditions like drought and heat stress.
Extreme and varying weather conditions also means diseases and pest outbreaks are difficult to predict and control. This is why the earliest possible protective measures are important, such as BASF’s new seed treatment Vercoras®. It provides seeds with broad-spectrum protection against important seed- and soil-borne diseases like blackleg and against flea beetle insect damage. Further, xarvio® FIELD MANAGER from BASF Digital Farming, an automated, digital crop optimization tool used worldwide, helps protect fields from seeding to harvest, combining and constantly analyzing a wide range of agronomic inputs, including weather data and in-season risks such as diseases. From the data, it recommends when, where and how much crop protection to apply. “Food security for all depends on farmers staying in business,” said Paul Rea, Senior Vice President BASF Agricultural Solutions North America. “Our role is and has been to bring innovations to farmers that enhance yield and climate resiliency, like our breakthroughs in canola. This is how we ensure the availability of nutritional staples now and in the future.”
To find out more about BASF’s innovation pipeline in agriculture, please visit our innovation website www.AgInnovation.basf.com.
About BASF’s Agricultural Solutions division
BASF Canada Agricultural Solutions, headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, has over 625 employees who work at one of three production facilities across Canada including: Lethbridge, Saskatoon, and Regina, or one of several research farms across the Canadian prairies. Agricultural Solutions is the largest division of BASF Canada Inc., working closely with the regional Agricultural Solutions team, collaborating on research and product development that benefits North American growers. To find out more about BASF Canada Agricultural Solutions, visit www.agsolutions.ca or follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/BASFAgSolutions.
Farming is fundamental to provide enough healthy and affordable food for a rapidly growing population while reducing environmental impacts. Working with partners and agricultural experts and by integrating sustainability criteria into all business decisions, we help farmers to create a positive impact on sustainable agriculture. That’s why we invest in a strong R&D pipeline, connecting innovative thinking with practical action in the field. Our portfolio comprises seeds and specifically selected plant traits, chemical and biological crop protection, solutions for soil management, plant health, pest control and digital farming. With expert teams in the lab, field, office and in production, we strive to find the right balance for success – for farmers, agriculture and future generations. In 2021, our division generated sales of €8.2 billion. For more information, please visit www.agriculture.basf.com or any of our social media channels.
About BASF
BASF Canada Inc., headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, has over 1,200 employees at production facilities and offices located across Canada. BASF Canada is a subsidiary of BASF SE, and an affiliate of BASF Corporation. To find out more about BASF’s activities in Canada, visit www.basf.com/ca or follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/basfcanada.
At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Around 111,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €78.6 billion in 2021. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the U.S. Further information at www.basf.com.
Media Relations Contact
Tabetha Boot
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BASF Canada Inc.
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