BASF has commissioned a new R&D center at the headquarters of the Crop Protection division in Limburgerhof, Germany. The site has two related research areas: biological crop protection and seed solutions. The center will be a hub of expertise, providing chemistry and biology solutions to farmers around the world. Thus, BASF is increasing its potential to develop innovations that go beyond conventional crop protection.
“Our investment in capacity expansion represents a major step towards unlocking the agricultural potential of seeds and crops in different and unexplored ways,” said Philipp Rosendorfer, Vice President R&D Functional Solutions for Agriculture at BASF’s Crop Protection division. Research into biological solutions, consisting of organisms and their extracts, offers great opportunities to complement BASF's chemical crop protection. Furthermore, the combination of chemistry and biology generates a new range of pioneering solutions for seed treatment. "With BASF's unique skills in research and modern formulations, we are one of the few companies that can provide a seed treatment with a mixture of biological and chemical compounds. This means that growers can ensure that their crops are well protected from the beginning of the planting", concluded Rosendorfer.
Increased global R&D network
The new center will increase the global R&D network of BASF sites, as well as experimentation sites in all regions dedicated to developing biological solutions for seed treatment and crop protection, including Brazil, Argentina, France, United Kingdom, South Africa, China, Australia, USA and Canada.
“The center in Germany will enhance and support research carried out in Latin America, which is currently the region with the most projects in the area of biologicals”, says Reinaldo Bonnacarrere. senior manager of Functional Solutions for agriculture in Latin America at BASF.
Bonnacarrere highlights that, since 2013, the ConCon unit in Chile has been developing a biological product based on Quillay extract, a tree originating in that country. The product is indicated for the control of nematodes in crops such as fruits, citrus, flowers, tomatoes and vegetables. Bionematicide is sold in Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Mexico. Other projects that use the same raw material are in the development phase and awaiting registration approval in several countries, including Brazil.
Great support for pipeline of future business
In addition to its existing portfolio in seed solutions and biological crop protection, BASF has a range of projects in its pipeline. pipeline, including new biological insecticides and fungicides for foliar and seed applications, seed-applied chemical actives, and seed improvements such as functional coatings. Among the resources available in the new facilities we have: Biological collection of strains, laboratories and facilities for screening testing and application of products, joint laboratory to combine BASF's biological fermentation knowledge with chemical formulation and facilities to develop solutions to improve properties application and management of treated seeds.
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