BASF’s two new Community Paddocks sprout in Paskeville and Nhill

• BASF’s Community Paddock initiative partners with local growers to generate new agronomic insights and raise funds for local communities
• BASF will supply crop protection products and ongoing support throughout the season, with profits donated back to the local community

Melbourne, Australia – 21 August 2023 – Stemming from last year’s success, the 2023 BASF Community Paddocks initiative has extended to two new locations in Paskeville, South Australia and Nhill, Victoria. Local growers have generously designated paddocks on their land to grow barley, canola and wheat, with BASF providing crop protection products and continuous support throughout the season to drive healthy crops. The profits from the harvest obtained later in the year will be donated to the Nhill District Sporting Club and Paskeville Progress Association.

“We are delighted to extend our Community Paddock project with the partnership of the Nhill and Paskeville community. BASF takes great pride in not only supporting growers, but also giving back to local groups that are the heart and soul of our communities,” said Andrew Gourlay, Head of Broadacre at BASF Australia.

Both sites were sown with barley in May, alongside small amounts of canola and wheat. Now well into the growing cycle, they have been carefully treated with BASF products such as Systiva®, Voraxor®, Frequency®, Opus® and Opera® to ensure an optimal level of weed control, and delivery of high-quality yield.

BASF is working alongside local grower Grant Pontifex to manage the Paskeville paddock. The team regularly visits and offers advice on yielding maximum returns that would better support the Paskeville Progress Association’s work in the community. “It is wonderful to see members of our community join forces and give back in a meaningful way, by sharing knowledge and contributing much needed funds to the Association and to Paskeville itself,” Pontifex said.

To drive further collaboration and understanding, members of the community will be able to visit both sites in the coming weeks, with the Paskeville site being open during the Yorke Peninsula Field Days in September, for agronomists and growers to view.

Throughout the season, BASF will regularly visit both sites to ensure crops are tracking well, and the right products are being used properly. Finding solutions for growers and giving back to the next generation of agri-professionals helps to strengthen local farming communities as they do #TheBiggestJobOnEarth.

For more information, visit crop-solutions.basf.com.au/.

About BASF’s Agricultural Solutions division  

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 2022, our division generated sales of €10.3 billion. For more information, please visit www.agriculture.basf.com or any of our social media channels.

About BASF in Australia and New Zealand

BASF serves key industries in the agriculture, coatings, manufacturing and mining sectors, and posted sales of about €492 million in Australia and New Zealand in 2022. As of the end of 2022, the company had 374 employees and operated 6 production sites across Agricultural Solutions, performance products and functional materials and solutions. BASF has been active in Australia for over 100 years, and about 60 years in New Zealand. Further information is available on www.basf.com/au and www.basf.com/nz.

About BASF

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. More than 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 €87.3 billion in 2022. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the United States. Further information at www.basf.com.